Yomi Omogbeja (09/07/2005)

Ethiopian World 5000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba has denied Kenyan Edith Masai the chance to share in the $1m Jackpot at the TDK/IAAF Golden League meeting in Rome.

Dibaba, who is also the World indoor 5000m record-holder, led an Ethiopian trio including Olympic 5000m champion Meseret Defar and the World 10,000m champion Berhane Adere in a sprint finish home.

The 20-year-old in third position until the last 15 metres edged out her two elder colleagues at the line to win in a meet record 14:32.57.

Adere came second in a season's best 14:32.79 with Defar third in a personal best 14:32.90.

World 5000m bronze medallist Masai, 38, who had shadowed the two pacemakers for most part of the race, finished in a disappointing fourth position in 14:37.20, but still set a Kenyan national record.

Tirunesh elder sister Ejegayehu Dibaba and Grosetto WJC sensation Meselech Melkamu came in fifth and sixth respectively in a season's best 14:38.07 and a personal best 14:38.97.

Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin also dented the Jackpot hope of Ghana's Aziz Zakari who won in Paris, as he returned 9.96 seconds to win the 100 metres with Zakari second in 10.06 seconds.

However, three Jackpot contenders remain for the $1 million prize money:

The $1 million TDK Golden League Jackpot awaits any athlete who wins his or her discipline at each of the six TDK Golden League 2005 meets, and then also competes at the World Athletics Final (Fri 9 / Sat 10 September).

Complete Result from Rome GL meeting