5000m WORLD RECORD - Bislett Games Olso 1982 - DAVE MOORCROFT

At the start of the 1982 meet, the 5000m world record stood at 13:06.20 to Henry Rono. The prolific world record machine was in the field alongside Moorcroft that night, but the Kenyan who owned five of the six fastest 5000m times in history was rendered a distant also-ran when the 29-year-old Briton pulled away from the field with just 800m gone.
Such was the lead that Moorcroft established, Ralph King of the USA presumed he was an over-zealous pacemaker who had dropped out long before the finish. As he outsprinted Moorcroft’s British compatriot Nick Rose to cross the line in a respectable 13:20.85, King celebrated what he presumed was a victory. In fact, he had finished second, with Rose third, and Rono fourth in 13:25.14.
Stunningly, the man from Coventry Godiva Harriers came within a whisker of smashing the 13-minute barrier, let alone the world record. His finishing time was given as 13:00.42 but was later amended to 13:00.41 after the photo finish picture had been examined.

[@RD-dl9ms]

Phenomenal. He visited my school's sports day a couple of days later. I wish there was a recording of the full race out there, somewhere.

[@user-yf3ti8ry2v]

Such a nice guy 1982 was his great year that sun 3:50 mile that 3000m Run & this Effort this night he was unbeatable! I used to watch him come to NZ & race the Local Hero John Walker he was always nice to all the kids like me etc even if JW had beaten him ! I just wish he had been at his best in those 1984 Olympics the 5000m but we can’t have it all no one ever has a bad word about this man & so underrated because of Ovett Coe & Cram

[@momoben9899]

Bravo 🎉

[@virgilioisaaccabreravelazq8842]

Han pasado más de 40 años y sigue emocionando como el primer día, una hazaña perenne

[@gilly4881]

Great night, I was there. 😊

[@TheEulerID]

Ron Pickering really wasn't paying attention. Moorcroft could have run a 64 second last lap, and he'd still have beaten the old world record, yet he was still just talking of beating Brendan Foster's national record, and maybe the European record.

[@RD-dl9ms]

You've got to wonder about commentators.

[@mikenealon4042]

speed & strength

[@joseluizrodrigues1315]

Kkkkk eu teria ainda nos 4.000 metros rasos.

[@nickbamber268]

Sorry but Ron Pickering was a truly hopeless commentator on middle distance events. He couldn't calculate what time Moorcroft needed on the last lap to break the WR or he actually thought Moorcroft wouldn't be able to run a 64 second last lap. The BBC has never been a meritocracy.

[@simonedwards5564]

Yes at 2:42 Ron Pickering says moorcroft could be on for that world record,,,,,,? WHAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!! That has got to be one of the biggest understatements of the century,,,,GOOD GRIEF !!!!!!! TERRIBLE COMMENTATING terrible

[@nickbamber268]

@@simonedwards5564 Yes, could he really run the final 50 metres in under 14 seconds? It would be a world age best for 2 year olds.