Good pacing and a strong finish – along with some sisterly assistance – led to a world record performance June 6, as Tirunesh Dibaba sliced more than five seconds off the women’s 5000-meter world record. Competing in the Bistlett Games in Oslo, Norway, Dibaba won the 5000 in a record time of 14:11.15, breaking the year-old mark of 14:16.63 set by fellow Ethiopian Meseret Defar. Dibaba’s performance remains subject to the standard IAAF ratification procedures.

Dibaba also owns the indoor 5000-meter world record, of 14:27.42, which had been her personal best in the event. The versatile Dibaba has excelled at a variety of distance events. She’s won four World Cross Country Championships plus two World Championships apiece at 5000 and 10,000 meters. She also earned the 5000-meter bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics. Her latest 5000-meter performance sets the stage for her to attempt the 5000-10,000 double at the Beijing Games. No woman has won both of those events in the brief history of Olympic women’s distance running. The women’s 10,000 meters entered the Olympic lineup in 1988, while the 5000-meter event replaced the 3000-meter race in 1996.

Taking aim at the 5000-meter record in Oslo, Dibaba followed pacesetter Anna Alminova through 3000 meters in 8:38.38, which was three seconds behind the record pace. Dibaba’s sister Ejegayehu, the 2004 Olympic 10,000-meter silver medalist, helped pace Tirunesh for about the next 600 meters. The younger Dibaba then finished strongly, running the final lap in just under 1:04.

Continuing this summer's assault on world records, Sergey Morozov made his first completed 20 kilometer race walk a good one on June 8, breaking the 1:17 barrier and finishing with a world record time of 1:16:43. Morozov set his record at the Russian National Championships in Saransk. As with Dibaba's mark, Morozov's result is subject to standard IAAF ratification procedures.

Vladimir Kanaykin held the previous record of 1:17:16. Kanaykin also bettered his former record at the Russian meet but had to settle for second place with a time of 1:16:53.

Morozov, 20, was the 2005 World youth and 2007 European junior champion in the 10,000-meter race walk.