by Stuart Weir
Mo Farah leads Marc Scott, Muller British Olympic 10,000m Trials, photo by British Athletics
In a much-anticipated race, the Muller British Olympic 10,000 Trials, held within the European Cup 10,000m, was anti climactic.
Marc Scott upset Mo Farah, but neither came within 30 seconds of what was expected by them. This was the only defeat that Farah has had at 10,000m since the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, Korea. For Scott, who ran 27:10.41 earlier this year, it seemed to be a survival run.
This piece was written by Stuart Weir.
Men’s 10,000 European Cup and British Olympic trials
Morhad Amdouni wins European Cup 10,000m, photo by British Athletics
The clash between Mo Farah and Marc Scott was eagerly awaited but proved to be something of an anti-climax. Farah has not lost a 10,000m race since the Daegu World Championships in 2011 but he has not run one since 2017 and he is now 38. Marc Scott already has the Olympic standard, having run 27:10.41 in San Juan Capistrano CA, earlier this year. In his pomp, Farah used to run at the back of the pack, keep out of trouble and make his decisive move late in the race. On this occasion, he was never really in contention. Scott also struggled, never with the leading group.
The top three were
1 Morhad Amdouni (France) 27:23.29
2 Bashir Abdi (Belgium) 27:24.4
3 Carlos Mayo (Spain) 27:25.0
Mo Farah leads Marc Scott, Muller British Olympic 10,000m Trials, photo by British Athletics
Marc Scott was seventh in 27:49.90 and Farah eighth in 27:50.6. Already having the Olympic standard and finishing as finish Briton, Scott clinched his place in the Olympic team. It looks like the end of Farah’s attempts to make another Olympic track team.
Mo Farah, after his 8th place in European Cup/British Olympic Trials 10,000m, 27:50.60, photo by British Athletics
Marc Scott said: “It’s a shame not to win the race overall but I just wanted to get the job done against the British guys”. Farah commented: “It is what it is. The last 10 days haven’t been great but, no matter what I’ve achieved in my career, it was important that I come to the trials. It would have been easy not to show but I did show and I dug in deep. With 15 laps to go, I was hurting hard. I just had to keep fighting, keep digging in, and finish in the top two.”
Third Briton was Emile Cairess (Alan Storey, Leeds City), who had the race of his life in the 10th place with a PB of 27:53.19 which is also inside the Team England qualifying standard for the 2020 Commonwealth Games.
