Matching the class of his African counterparts Craig Mottram has won the Emil Zatopek 5000m against a star-studded field at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava overnight.

In what Australian athletics fans hope is a sign of things to come at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka in 66 days time, Mottram stormed home in 13:04.97 from Ethiopians Tariku Bekele (13:05.42) and Abreham Feleke (13:05.83), the World Junior gold and silver medallists of 2006.

2007 World Cross Country silver medallist Moses Mosop (Kenya) was fourth in 13:07.89 with fellow countryman Joseph Ebuya, the World Junior bronze medallist, fifth in 13:09.01.

Although the pace wasn’t as quick as expected, Mottram - who was also named athlete of the meet - was delighted with his performance in his only scheduled 5000m hit-out prior to Osaka.

“I didn’t run as quick as I would have liked and I believe I could run much faster but the win tonight was a priority,” he said.

“They said the pace was going to be fast, 7:40 into 3km, but then the pacemaker hurt himself and the pace slowed, so it was more of a tactical affair mid-race.

“Bekele was on my heels coming into home but I was just too fast.”

Mottram put his foot on the gas in the final lap, clocking 53.5 seconds flying home with 200m to go in 26.5 seconds.

“I’m very happy, (it was a) good race and a good win,” he continued.

“Nic (Bideau) and I picked out Ostrava six months ago as a good race to compete in prior to the world champs.

“It fitted in nicely to the world champs plan and that race gives me confidence for the main event in two months time.

“I hope that in Osaka the outcome of the race will be the same as here, where the Africans are looking at my back.”

Renowned for his crowd-pleasing antics, Mottram was forced to be a bit more reserved this time around - blowing a kiss into the stands once victory was safe.

Despite his awesome efforts, a lot more work awaits ‘The Big Mazungo’ who will return to his training base in London tomorrow for two weeks of solid ground work before hitting the track again in Sheffield on July 15.

Australia’s premier long jumper Bronwyn Thompson kicked off her European campaign and a healthy return to competition to finish fourth with a leap of 6.43m. Poland’s Malgorzata Trybanska was the winner with 6.68m.

Thompson, who wrestled with injury throughout much of the domestic season, will now turn her sights to Malmo, Sweden on July 2.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kym Howe and World Youth Championships-bound Vicky Parnov both contended the pole vault; Howe finished fifth with 4.40m while 16 year-old Parnov struggled to no height.

An emotional world No. 1 Yelena Isinbaeva (Russia) continued her stirring form to win with 4.66m.

National champion Tamsyn Lewis came agonisingly close to capturing the elusive World Championships A-qualifying standard, finishing sixth in the 800m in 2:00.65. The race generated a tight finish with Russia’s Svetlana Cherkasova winning in 1:59.05.

With 2:00.00 the barrier, the resilient Victorian will continue her European campaign next week with her meets to be confirmed.

An eighth-place finish in the 800m was brightened by a new personal best for NSWIS athlete Nick Bromley, who posted 1:47.28; Bahrain’s Belal Mansoor Ali the winner in 1:44.74.

Josh Ross finished fourth in the 100m in a windless 10.34, won by Great Britain’s European Cup champion Craig Pickering (10.16) with Netherlands Antilles’ Churandy Martina second in 10.31.

The other big story of the Golden Spike was a new world record to Ethiopian distance legend Haile Gebrselassie, who clocked 21,285m in the one hour run.

The action continues in Luzern tonight, with Patrick Johnson (200m), Donna MacFarlane (3000m steeplechase), Clinton Hill (400m), Mark Ormrod (400m), Adam Miller (100m) and Brendan Cole (400m Hurdles ) all flying the Aussie flag.

Athletics Australia