The men's 10,000m race had been staged to assist African runners produce fast times to improve their chances of selection for the World Championships, but over 20 of them were upstaged by the 28-year-old Briton, who bettered the 11-year-old record of 26:52.30 held by Mohammed Mourhit of Belgium, and also claimed the UK record which has stood to Jon Brown since 1998 with 27:18.14.

Farah who moved from his London home with his family to train under coaching guru Alberto Salazar in nearby Portland earlier in the year, moved clear of his rivals when hitting the front with 1200m remaining and winding up the pace.

Over the final circuit he held off the challenge of Ethiopia's Imane Merga who posted a lifetime best of 26:48.35, as did third placed Josphat Bett from Kenya who crossed the line in 26:48.99 in a race where nine athletes bettered 27 minutes.

"I just sat at the back and worked my way through the field," said Farah whose previous fastest time was a year-old 27:28;26.

"This is definitely a special track."

Farah who trains with leading American athletes as part of a specialist set up in Portland, added: "It was amazing and and I want to thank my coach who has worked me really hard on the Oregon Project.

"It's paid off."

The European 5,000 and 10,000 gold medallist insisted: "If it wasn't for the crowd I would never have done this.

"With three laps to go I knew I had the chance for the record.

"I want a world medal and it's shown here that if I keep working I'll be in the mix."

Moses Mosop of Kenya beat the long standing world records on the track for 25,000m and 30,000m with an uninhibited display of front running.

Mosop, the 2005 World 10,000m Championship bronze medallist, who has already enjoyed an excellent 2011 year with second places in the Paris Half Marathon and Boston Marathon dominated  the endurance competition for the last 12,000m of the race.

The 25-year-old Kenyan, thanks to excellent early pacemaking by Ethiopia's Keteme Tola for the first 10,000 in 29:19 became the first African to hold the records which Japan's Toshihiko Seko set in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March 1981 of 1 hour 13min 55.8sec and 1:29:18.8.

Mosop who led from 18,000m went through 25,000 in 1:12:25.4 to smash Seko's figures over the shorter distance, and maintaining his assault added a second world record to his credentials when crossing the finish line after 75 laps in 1:26:47.4.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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