Canada's Moh Ahmed edges way into 5,000m final at World Athletics Championships

Canadian long-distance runner Moh Ahmed is back in another 5,000-metre final at the world athletics championships.

The 31-year-old from St. Catharines, Ont., finished fifth in the second and final heat Thursday night inside Hayward Field to qualify for the final.

Ahmed stopped the clock in a time of 13:15.17 — he locked up the final automatic qualifying berth ahead of Kenya's Daniel Ebenyo by one one-thousandth of a second.

"Oh my god. The game has changed. Everybody is fit. Everybody is good. Everybody is good right now," Ahmed told CBC Sports after the race.

"It was hot out there. Everybody was working hard. I'm happy to get it done and give myself another two days of rest."

WATCH | Canada's Ahmed qualifies for 5,000m final:

The men's 5,000m is scheduled for Sunday, the final night of competition at worlds.

"I didn't realize we separated. I don't know when that happened. I just wanted to stay up there. And just get an automatic Q," Ahmed said.

Charles Philibert-Thiboutot was also competing for Canada in the 5000m heats Thursday night.

The 31-year-old from Quebec City, in his debut in this distance at worlds, finished in a time of 13.38.80. He did not advance to the final.

And he can't wait to get back out on the track.

"Position. Position. Position. Fight hard. Let them know who I am," Ahmed said.

It was this event three years ago at the world championships in Doha that catapulted Ahmed into a different track and field stratosphere.

On that late-September night in 2019, Ahmed seemed poised for the podium after taking the lead late in the race. However with about 500 metres left, Ahmed dropped to fifth position.

WATCH l Breaking down what makes Mo Ahmed a 5,000m threat:

He needed a memorable kick to the finish to secure