Lagat seals 3,000m title with emphatic win in Doha

From David Jordan, Sportsbeat, in Doha

USA'S Bernard Lagat recaptured the men's 3,000m crown at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha, six years after lifting his first title.

EMPHATIC WIN: Bernard Lagat demonstrated his dominance in the men's 3,000m with an emphatic win at the World Indoor Athletics Championships (Getty Images)

The 35-year old won in emphatic style in the ASPIRE Dome, finishing in 7:37.97 minutes with Spain's Sergio Sanchez 1.57 seconds back in second and Kenya's Sammy Alex Mutahi another 0.45 behind in third.

Defending champion Tariku Bekele made the early running in Doha but faded desperately in the final 200m and slumped to fourth.

Having lost his world outdoor 5,000m title to Bekele's older brother Kenenisa in Berlin last year, Friday's semi-final defeat of Tariku was strictly professional for Lagat, the American ensuring he was safely in the medal race.

But there was a sense of revenge in Sunday's final, proving a point to anyone doubters who suspected he was past his peak.

Bekele led from the gun and pushed hard in the last 600m, desperate to break away from the pack.

But the Ethiopian's move dropped all but the American, as Lagat comfortably tucked in behind the defending champion before taking control for the final lap and streaming home.

And Bekele's daring pace quickly backfired as Sanchez and Mutahi passed him in the last 100m, leaving him 0.20 seconds off a medal in fourth.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian teenager Kalkidan Gezahegne stormed to victory in the women's 1,500m to collect her first major medal.

The 18-year old's teammate and defending champion Gelete Burka had gold in her grasp as they hit the back straight, but Gezahegne raced past in the sprint finish to strike gold in 4:08.14 minutes.

The teenager had shown her potential in the semi-finals, recovering from falling down mid-way through the race to catch the field and set the fastest qualifying time of both heats.

And given a clean run in the final, Gezahegne made no mistakes, tucking in behind Burka before making her move in the last 70m.

Burka had been in a similar position at the World Championships in Berlin last year when a trip from Spain's Natalia Rodriguez saw the Ethiopian cannon to the floor and miss out on a medal.

And the 24-year old was cursing Rodriguez again in Doha as the Spaniard also found the legs to squeeze past the Ethiopian in the home straight and strike silver, 0.16 seconds behind Gezhegne, with Burka settling for bronze another 0.09 back.