Eloise Wellings backed up her stunning performance in the women’s 10,000 metres with another top ten finish in the 5,000 metres in Rio on Saturday (AEST).
The Cronulla runner had run a brilliant personal best in finishing 10th in the 10,000m in a time of 31 minutes, 14.94 seconds – 40 seconds quicker than her previous best – last weekend.
Wellings’ time was the also the fastest ever by an Australian woman over the 10,000 metres distance.
The 33-year-old backed that up by finishing ninth in the 5,000m in 15:01.59.
Wellings said she was thrilled for Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot who won gold in the 5,000m, charging home with fellow Kenyan Hellen Onsando Obiri in the final two kilometres to take the quinella, relegating Ethiopian 10,000m gold medalist Almaz Ayana to bronze.
Cheruiyot won in an Olympic record time of 14:26.17, with Obiri home in 14:29.77, and Ayana clocking 14:33.59.
Wellings also got to share the experience with fellow Australians Genevieve LaCaze, who finished 12th, and Madi Hills who finished 10th.
"I'm stoked for Vivian because I've been racing her since I was 15,” Wellings said.
"[Ayana is] in amazing shape, and the way she blitzed the 10K but obviously she's a little bit tired.
"I know Genevieve's breathing, so I knew it was her behind me. I feel her starting to drop off and I was like 'come on, come on!"
A week after obliterating the world record on the way to gold in the 10,000m, Ayana kicked away at the 1700m mark, appearing to have left the field in her wake before fading.
I'm stoked for Vivian because I've been racing her since I was 15.
- Eloise Wellings
Ayana - whose performances have been publicly questioned by other competitors - led by as much as 30m at one stage.
Wellings confirmed she now has her eyes on the Gold Coast for the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics.
As well as support from the Aussies in the crowd in Rio, there was plenty of support for Wellings at home.
A group of about 50 friends, family and fans took over Wanda Surf Club on Saturday morning to watch Wellings run in the 5,000m final.
The group, many wearing the colour green in honour of Wellings’ Love Mercy foundation, were not left disappointed, as Wellings recorded her second top 10 finish of the Games.
