At the 3K mark, Julia Bleasdale moved in behind her teammate, but in the next 200 metres, Dibaba decided it was time to take up the lead.

The pace accelerated markedly, with the Ethiopian and Kenyan teams coming to the front and the others falling off the back.

Viola Jelagat Kibiwot was the last to pay attention, sprinting along the outside to catch the group of leaders.

Bleasdale was the last to stay with that group of six, who had achieved separation with 600 to go, Dibaba and Meseret Defar, led Kibiwot and Vivian Cheruiyot with the pace steadily increasing.

Notes: Q- Qualified by place q - Qualified by performance (time) PB - Personal best NR - National record SB - Seasonal best DQ - Disqualified DNS - Did not start DNF - Did not finish