Farah leads British gold rush

Barcelona: Mo Farah completed the first distance double at the European championships for 20 years with a dominant victory in the 5,000 metres as Britain won a hat-trick of golds at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Farah gained revenge for his defeat four years ago by Spain's Jesus Espana, comprehensively outsprinting the home favourite and Azerbaijan's Hayle Ibrahimov to add the 5,000 crown to the 10,000 title he won last Tuesday.

His victory came hot on the heels of Jessica Ennis' heptathlon gold in a championship record points tally and David Greene completed the country's golden trio by leading home Rhys Williams for a British one-two in the 400 hurdles. The 5,000 was a slow tactical affair until Farah, watched by Britain's marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe, hit the front with three laps to go and steadily increased the pace.

No response from rivals

At the bell, only defending champion Espana and Ibrahimov had stayed with him but, as the cheers of 38,000-strong crowd drowned out the sound of drums playing over the tannoy, Farah kicked for home coming into the final bend.

His two rivals had no response and a grimacing Farah was left with a clear run to the line to win in 13:31.18. Espana, head lolling, overtook Ibrahimov for the silver in 13:33.12.

"There was a point when I thought my chance of gold was under threat but I pulled through," an emotional Farah said.

Ennis' heptathlon, by contrast, went right to the wire after Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska closed to within 18 points going into the last of the seven events, the 800 metres.

Ennis kicked coming into the final bend and sprinted away from the tired Ukrainian to take her points tally to 6,823, 45 more than Dobrynska. Germany's Jennifer Oeser was third. Dobrynska had slowly eaten away at Ennis' lead throughout the day's three events as the two athletes brought out the best in each other during their battle for gold.

Overwhelming favourite

As the fastest European this season, Greene was the overwhelming favourite for the 400 hurdles and was never under pressure, finishing some 10 metres ahead of Williams in 48.12.

Poland's Marcin Lewandowski lived up to his billing as Europe's fastest 800 runner this year and prevented Britain from celebrating a fourth gold when he overtook Michael Rimmer on the home straight to win in 1:47.07.

France were also on the trail of more golds and took their tally to six, including their seventh medal in the sprints, when fast-finishing Myriam Soumare surprised the favourites from lane eight to win the 200 in a European leading time of 22.32.

Ukrainian Yelizaveta Bryzhina, daughter of the 1988 Olympic 400 champion Olga Vladykina, edged out Russia's Aleksandra Fedoriva for silver in a photo finish although both athletes were given the same time, 22.44.