Defar, Isinbayeva complete Indoor Worlds hat-tricks

VALENCIA, Spain: Ethiopian long-distance specialist Meseret Defar and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva won their third consecutive world indoor titles on Saturday.

Defar produced a devastating last-lap burst to see off compatriot Meselech Melkamu and complete a hat-trick in the women's 3,000m, while Isinbayeva claimed her third indoor gold with a leap of 4.75m in the pole vault.

Olympic and world 5,000m champion Defar ran a near perfect race, biding her time as she tucked in behind the leaders in the early stages and stepped up a gear just before the last lap to win in eight minutes 38.79 seconds ahead of Melkamu.