In an event billed as Ethiopia versus Kenya, the men's 10,000m ended up a one sided battle, led by the new master of 25 lap running, Kenenisa BEKELE (ETH).
The 21-year-old, sprinted away from four time world champion, Haile GEBRSELASSIE (ETH) in the final 200m to take gold in a championship record and world leading time of 26:49.57.
The pace was slow early with the lead changing constantly through the first 10 laps. At 4000m, Gebrselassie went to the front and opened up the bunched field.
At halfway, the event started to take it's predicted form as the three Ethiopians and three Kenyans broke away from the pack. They were joined by Qatar's Abdullah Ahmad HASSAN, formerly known as Kenya's Albert CHEPKIRUI.
Gebrselassie kept the pace up and by 6000m he, Bekele, team-mate Sileshi SIHEN and 2001 world champion, Charles KAMATHI (KEN) had put a decent sized gap on the field.
They picked up the tempo, clocking a 61s lap to soon lose Kamathi, who quickly dropped back through the field. Soon he stepped off the track, later saying they were too strong for him tonight.
The Ethiopian team tactics looked like they were paying off as it was now a battle for medal colours between the top three ranked runners in the world this year.
Bekele and Gebrselassie dropped Sihen with 700m to run and began the sprint home. Gebreselassie, who had done most of the front running in the second half, was still ahead but Bekele put on an astonishing burst of speed to kick past the Olympic champion with 200m left. He covered the last half lap in 26 seconds and the last 5000m was run in 12:57min.
Gebrselassie clocked his fastest time this year - 26:50.77 for silver while Sihen came through in 27:01.44 for bronze.
HASSAN set an Asian record 27:18.28 for fourth place, ahead of the Kenyans, John Cheruiyot KORIR, Wilberforce TALEL and Salim KIPSANG.
