Distance double for Farah

LONDON (AP):

Britain's Mo Farah made it a second Super Saturday for a frenzied home crowd at the Olympic Stadium, winning the 5,000 metres to clinch a long distance double at the London Games.

For the 80,000 fans though, one more victory for Farah meant more.

Taking the lead with 700 metres to go, Farah staved off all challenges and, riding incessant howls of encouragement, swept away on the home straight. He threw his hands wide in victory, slapped his head and screamed out loud in amazement after he crossed the line.

Again, David Bowie's Heroes blared over the speakers, just like it did last Saturday when British athletes won three gold within one hour. Without a doubt, Farah made a great Olympics for Britain even more unforgettable.

"The crowd were amazing, they made an unbelievable noise," Farah said. "Two gold medals, who would have thought that?"

His competitors, too, felt the power of the home fans.

"The crowd helped him. He ran 100 per cent and they added another 10," said fourth-place finisher Bernard Lagat of the United States. "So you had a guy running at 110 per cent."

Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia threatened until 50 metres out but faded to take silver. Thomas Longosiwa of Kenya won bronze.

20-kilometre walk world record

Little more than an hour earlier, Russian Yelena Lashmanova had claimed the third world record of the games, in the 20-kilometre walk.

Lashmanova walked past teammate and defending champion Olga Kaniskina within sight of the finish Saturday evening to clock 1 hour, 25 minutes and 2 seconds and win the Olympic gold medal. She improved on the one-year-old world mark by six seconds.

Earlier Saturday, two-time world champion Sergei Kirdyapkin claimed an Olympic record in the 50-kilometre race walk, the longest event in the track and field programme.

And world champion Mariya Savinova of Russia won the Olympic 800-metre title, beating Caster Semenya of South Africa.

Russia's brilliant four-gold medal day was capped when Anna Chicherova cleared 2.05 metres to win the women's high jump.

The victories gave Russia eight gold to further cement their second-place standing in the track and field medals table, just one behind the United States.

It all started under a glorious morning sunshine in 21 C (70F) heat at the Mall, in front of Buckingham Palace when Sergei Kirdyapkin won the 50K walk.

The men's marathon closes out the track and field programme today.