Milan, Italy - Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, 2003 World champion and 2008 Olympic silver medallist, improved world seasonal best for 5000m with a 12:56.46 run last night at the Notturna di Milano, an EA Permit meeting (25).Kipchoge, who ran 13:00.91 in Hengelo, came to Milan with the goal to dip under 13 minutes. Pacemaker Benson Esho set a fast pace going through in 2:31 at 1km and 5:07.35 at 2km. Kipchoge broke away from the rest of the field at 3 km which he passed in 7:45.59. From this point Kipchoge ran alone against the clock passing the 4km in 10:19.76. Thanks to a strong final kilometre Kipchoge crossed the finish-line in 12:56.46 to improve the previous 2009 world best time run by Ethiopian Ali Abdosh (12:59.56 in Hengelo). So far only Kipchoge and Abdosh have managed to dip under the 13 minutes barrier in the 5000m in 2009.
Ethiopian Deresse Mekonnen, World Indoor 1500m champion, finished runner-up in 13:07.76.
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