The tall elegant, Kenyan Air Force Sergeant slipped into overdrive 300 metres from the finish to defeat his compatriot Paul Koech.

"It was the toughest race of the four," said Tergat afterwards. "I feel sorry for Salah Hissou (Morocco’s great hope who withdrew on Friday). I know what it is like to be injured and miss big events but even without Hissou this was a very strong field."

Spain’s Fabian Roncero, in training for a tilt at the ten year old world marathon best in Rotterdam next month, audaciously set the early pace and passed through two kilometres in 5:03.

Roncero held his form to finish tenth but the day, and the race, belonged to Africa. Ismael Kirui, three times an individual medallist but never the champion, adopted his assigned role as pacemaker and took the large group through three kilometres in 8:31.He carried on towing his team-mates and five kilometres was reached in 14:18. Fourteen men were still together at the front as Kirui went through the halfway point in 17:11.

Paul Koech showed at the head of the field for the first time in the seventh kilometre and even increased the relentless pace. The injection of speed had the desired affect and the leading runners started to become strung out along the barrier. Koech passed eight kilometres, the two-thirds point in the race, in 22:51 with Ethiopia’s Assefa Mezegebu still on his shoulder attempting to get his country’s first individual victory in the race since 1983.

The quartet of Koech, Tergat, Mezegebu and world steeplechase champion Wilson Kipketer Boit approached the bell together with Koech going part 10 kilometres in 25:40 but the checkpoint was the key for Tergat and Koech to attack and shake off their Ethiopian rival.

Koech was again the man at the helm and looked set to usurp Tergat like he had down at the Kenyan championships but Tergat’s superior finishing speed prevailed. Tergat stopped the clock for the 12 kilometre race in 34:01 with Koech five seconds adrift. Mezegebu was a clear third in 34:28, followed home by the remaining four members of the Kenyan team.

The victory for Tergat proved to be a profitable one. In addition to the $40,000 first prize for the race itself, Tergat earned enough points to top the IAAF World Cross Challenge rankings which will add another $25,000 to his bank balance.

A tired but delighted Tergat also laid to rest the myth that the rivalry between Kenya and Morocco had a bitter twist.

"Morocco are nearly always our nearest challengers in athletics and I’ve never been to Morocco before but It was a nice surprise to find that everybody was cheering for me and knew my name," said Tergat with the gold medal around his neck.

Tergat added a tenth gold medal to his collection to equal the record held by John Ngugi after the points were added up and Kenya were predictably awarded the team title to extend their reign of success to 13 years in a row.