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Tirunesh Dibaba wins gold in history's second-fastest time
 BEIJING, China - For almost four years, Tirunesh Dibaba has been one of the most-dominant distance runners in the world. In that span, the tiny Ethiopian powerhouse has won three world titles on the track and four in cross country. She has laid claim to the World Records at 5000 meters both indoors and out. So, it is easy to forget she has never won an Olympic gold medal.
Until now. With two kilometers remaining, the Olympic 10,000-meter race was down to Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse and Dibaba, the latter sticking right behind the former as she set a torrid pace in trying to escape what she would be coming if she didn't get away. To little surprise, Dibaba struck at the bell, taking the lead at the bell. Abeylegesse put up a good fight until the last 200 meters, when the Ethiopian put down the hammer to cross the finish line in 29:54.66 to become just the second woman to dip under the 30-minute barrier.
Abeylegesse quickly became the third, finishing in 29:56.34.
"I was expecting something from the race and I got it," said Dibaba. "It was the right place to break the World Record. Next year I am sure I'll do it."
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