Farah claims another national record but settles for second at Aviva Grand Prix

By Sportsbeat staff

MO Farah admitted his disappointment after settling for second over two miles at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham.

DISAPPOINTED: World 5,000m champion Mo Farah settled for second over two miles at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham (Getty Images)

Farah still clocked a new national record over the rarely run distance, coming home in 8:08.07, but Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge kicked clear down the home straight for an impressive win.

"I was a bit disappointed with the race. I tried in the last 1000m to get back at him but it just wasn’t to be no matter how hard I worked,” said Farah.

“But I was pleased that I stuck with it and never gave up because you can’t do that, it’s still a little annoying though.”

There was also disappointment for the other big name attraction at the National Indoor Arena - former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell coming last in a Jamaican 1-2-3 over 60m.

However, just three hundredths of a second separated winner Lerone Clarke, who posted a national record 6.47 secs, Nesta Carter and Powell, who both still ran personal bests to place second and third.

Elsewhere, Hannah England raced to a season's best but could only watch as Genezebe Dibaba streaked into the distance to stamp her authority on 1500m all-comers.

Dibaba, the sister of world champion Tirunesh, and cousin of former Olympic gold medallist Derartu Tulu, certainly has the breeding for success.

But not even Birmingham-based England - a silver medallist over 1500m at last year's World Championship in Daegu - expected the winning margin to be a comprehensive eight seconds.

"I was hoping to go a bit faster than that," she admitted, after holding off American Anna Pierce to clock a season’s best 4:09.79.

"I felt like I was in contact with her until the last few laps then I just tried to concentrate on running well and worrying about the girls behind.

"I'm chuffed to hold onto second, I was going to be disappointed with anything less than that but I did do it the hard way."

Earlier, Jess Ennis produced a stunning personal best over 60m hurdles and she also bettered her PB in the long jump.

The former world heptathlon champion produced a 6.47 metre effort that was good enough for third in an event won by team-mate Shara Proctor in a new British record 6.80m. 

She will now look with confidence towards the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, where Russia's Tatyana Chernova, who beat Ennis at last year's Worlds in Daegu, will be a chief rival.

“It would be great to go out to Istanbul and pull out some PBs and win that but it will be difficult," she said.

"It will be my first time up against Chernova since Daegu, so it will be a big challenge. It will be difficult as some of the girls are pulling out great performances right now."

© Sportsbeat 2012