BIRMINGHAM, June 30: Britain’s Mo Farah proved he was still the man to beat heading into the World Championships with a 5,000 metres win over a high-class field at the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham on Sunday.

Farah, who won gold medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at last year’s London Olympics, saw off the Ethiopian duo of Yenew Alamirew and Hagos Gebrhiwet — the world’s two fastest men over the shorter distance — in a last lap sprint that saw him win in a time of 13 minutes 14.71 seconds.

It was an encouraging display by Farah ahead of the World Championships in Moscow in August and afterwards the 30-year-old told the BBC: “The young guys wanted to beat me, I’m the guy to beat.

“I had to dig deep. The pace was slow and the conditions weren’t great — it was very windy. Ultimately you’ve got to get the job done and to win the race.”

Earlier, Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria upstaged illustrious rivals Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Carmelita Jeter to win the women’s 200 metres.

The standout race of the Diamond League meet was billed as a head to head between Fraser-Pryce and Jeter but triple African champion Okagbare made an unusually strong start and held off Fraser-Pryce, the two-time Olympic 100-metre champion, to win in 22.55 seconds.

Jeter, the world 200 champion, trailed in a disappointing seventh in 23.36.

Jeter declined to talk to waiting reporters but training partner Okagbare did not think the American’s performance was a cause for concern.

“She’s fine. You saw her run today so you can tell for yourself,” the Nigerian told reporters. “It’s good she’s come back.

“I’m not a good starter so I have more of an advantage on the 200,” added Okagbare, who has yet to decide whether she will attempt a sprint double in Moscow.

Jamaican Nesta Carter took the men’s 100 in the absence of his better-known compatriots Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, winning in 9.99. Britain’s James Dasaolu recorded a personal best of 10.03 for second and the ever-green Kim Collins, world champion in 2003, was third (10.06).

Dawn Harper-Nelson led an American 1-2 in the women’s 100 hurdles, edging Kellie Wells to victory in 12.64. World and Olympic champion Sally Pearson was fourth.

Leading results: Men’s: 100 metres: 1. Nesta Carter (Jamaica) 9.99 seconds; 2. James Dasaolu (Britain) 10.03; 3. Kim Collins (St Kitts and Nevis) 10.06.

800 metres: 1. Mohammed Aman (Ethiopia) 1:45.18; 2. Andre Olivier (South Africa) 1:45.64; 3. Andrew Osagie (Britain) 1:45.80.

1,500 metres: 1. Aman Wote (Ethiopia) 3:35.99; 2. Abdalaati Iguider (Morocco) 3:36.23; 3. Mohamed Moustaoui (Morocco) 3:36.75.

5,000 metres: 1. Mohamed Farah (Britain) 13:14.24; 2. Yenew Alamirew (Ethiopia) 13:14.71; 3. Hagos Gebrhiwet (Ethiopia) 13:17.11.

110-metre hurdles: 1. Ryan Brathwaite (Barbados) 13.13 seconds; 2. Aries Merritt (US) 13.22; 3. Artur Noga (Poland) 13.32.

400-metre hurdles: 1. Javier Culson (Puerto Rico) 48.59 seconds; 2. Rhys Williams (Britain) 48.93; 3. Michael Tinsley (US) 48.94.

High jump: 1. Bohdan Bondarenko (Ukraine) 2.36 metres; 2. Erik Kynard (US) 2.34; 3. Robert Grabarz (Britain) 2.31.

Long jump: 1. Aleksandr Menkov (Russia) 8.27 metres; 2. Greg Rutherford (Britain) 8.11; 3. Christopher Tomlinson (Britain) 7.97.

Triple jump: 1. Christian Taylor (US) 17.66 metres; 2. Teddy Tamgho (France) 17.47; 3. Yoann Rapinier (France) 16.88.

Shot put: 1. Reese Hoffa (US) 21.34 metres; 2. Ryan Whiting (US) 20.89; 3. Ladislav Prasil (Czech Republic) 20.76.

Javelin throw: 1. Andreas Thorkildsen (Norway) 83.94 metres; 2. Ari Mannio (Finland) 83.26; 3. Dmitri Tarabin (Russia) 83.03.

Women’s: 200 metres: 1. Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) 22.55 seconds; 2. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) 22.72; 3. Ivet Lalova (Bulgaria) 23.02.

400 metres: 1. Christine Ohuruogu (Britain) 50.63 seconds; 2. Amantle Montsho (Botswana) 50.64; 3. Novlene Williams-Mills (Jamaica) 51.03.

800 metres: 1. Jessica Judd (Britain) 1:59.85; 2. Marilyn Okoro (Britain) 2:00.76; 3. Fantu Magiso (Ethiopia) 2:01.12.

1,500 metres: 1. Abeba Aregawi (Sweden) 4:03.70; 2. Nancy Jebet Langat (Kenya) 4:04.53; 3. Ekaterina Sharmina (Russia) 4:04.55.

100-metre hurdles: 1. Dawn Harper-Nelson (US) 12.64 seconds; 2. Kellie Wells (US) 12.67; 3. Tiffany Porter (Britain) 12.72.

400-metre hurdles: 1. Perri Shakes-Drayton (Britain) 53.82 seconds; 2. Eilidh Child (Britain) 54.22; 3. Yadisleidis Pedroso (Italy) 55.40.

3,000-metre steeplechase: 1. Milcah Chemos Cheywa (Kenya) 9:17.43; 2. Sofia Assefa (Ethiopia) 9:17.97; 3. Hiwot Ayalew (Ethiopia) 9:18.83.

Pole vault: 1. Yarisley Silva (Cuba) 4.73 metres; 2. Fabiana Murer (Brazil) 4.63; 3. Jennifer Suhr (US) 4.53 Discus throw: 1. Sandra Perkovic (Croatia) 64.32 metres; 2. Gia Lewis-Smallwood (US) 62.46; 3. Anna Rueh (Germany) 62.14. —Agencies