MO Farah revelled in becoming a history maker as he sealed a hat-trick of global long- distance doubles by retaining his 5000 metres title at the World Championships in Beijing.

The 32-year-old followed up his 10,000 metres triumph by racking up his seventh straight global crown – an unprecedented period of domination.

The slow early pace, set by Farah’s Great Britain team-mate Tom Farrell early on, played into his hands and he took advantage, unleashing a devastating kick past Kenya’s Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku in the final 150m to cross the line a comfortable winner in 13 minutes 50.38 seconds.

It was Great Britain’s fifth medal of the championships and fourth gold. “It’s incredible to make history and win so many medals for my country,” said Farah, who joked he might “need to get a bigger house” to keep his expanding collection.

The Kenyans had worked as a team in the 10,000m to try to neutralise Farah’s finishing speed and, although it did not work, it was expected his rivals would try something similar again. Instead, the early pace was slow. Ndiku did at least try to pose a problem for the Briton, moving up a gear in a bid for home with 800m remaining and finally stretching out the field.

But Farah, who revealed he has been suffering from a sore hamstring, is the master at fast finishing and he went with the Kenyan before bursting past him as they headed into the home straight for the final time. Ndiku had no answer and dug in to hold on for silver in 13mins 51.75secs, while Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet took bronze. Farrell finished 15th.

Farah wore a crown as he celebrated on his lap of honour. No other man, not even Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele, has won the long-distance double at more than one World Championships. His latest triumph came at a stadium where he experienced the lowest moment of his career seven years ago when he failed to make the Olympic final.

Farah said: “Seven years ago I remember Bekele winning everything. And I remember thinking with all those medals he has if he only gave me one. The change in seven years is incredible.

“It hasn’t been easy, it’s been continual and year by year trying to build. If you’d have said to me seven years ago you’d have one medal I would have said OK, but to win as many medals as I have is just incredible.”

This season has certainly been one of Farah’s most difficult due to the doping allegations surrounding his coach Alberto Salazar, who has denied any wrongdoing.

“I had a tough year this year,” Farah said. “To put everything behind me and continue what I’m doing, just be myself, focus on myself and on my running, it hasn’t been easy. But at the same time it’s made it enjoyable. With success comes a lot of obstacles.”

Earlier yesterday, Shelayna Oskan-Clarke of Britain produced her second sub-two minute run in two races in finishing fifth in the 800m in 1:58.99, with Marina Arzamasova taking gold for Belarus in 1:58.03. As poor changeovers extinguished the 4x100m medal hopes of the United States and Great Britain, Usain Bolt stormed to his third gold of the championships by anchoring the Jamaican team of Nesta Carter, Asafa Powell and Nickel Ashmeade to victory in a world-leading 37.36 seconds.

A sloppy baton change between Tyson Gay and Mike Rodgers saw the US disqualified minutes after a race Britain did not even finish. James Ellington and Chijindu Ujah messed up on the last leg – two years after the former’s changeover with the omitted Harry Aikines-Aryeetey resulted in Britain having their bronze chalked off in Moscow.

The British women’s team – Asha Philip, Dina Asher-Smith, Jodie Williams and Desiree Henry – produced a national record of 42.10secs but were pipped to bronze by Trinidad and Tobago as the US took silver behind Jamaica.

Eilidh Child and Kirsten McAslan helped Britain finish second in their 4x400m relay heat in 3:23.90. The latter looks set to be replaced by Christine Ohuruogu for today’s final but said: “Because I am new to the team, I didn’t want to let the girls down and I wanted to perform until my last. There was no drama, I had a clear run and I really gave it my all.’

The British men are also through to their 4x400m final after winning their semi-final.

American Ashton Eaton produced the first world record of the championships when he extended his own world-record decathlon points tally from 9039 to 9045.