Australian Benita Johnson has finished fifth in the women's cross-country world championship here today.

Johnson clocked 12 minutes 48 seconds for the 4km journey - just five seconds off the winning time of Kenyan Edith Masai.

Johnson was the only non-African in the top seven finishers.

Masai successfully defended her short course title, beating newly-crowned long course world champion Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia.

Masai, the 2002 short course champion, completed the four kilometre race in 12:43, surging ahead of her Ethiopian rival in the final 100 metres.

Kenya's Jane Gakunyi was third.

Kenya won the team title with three runners in the top four, with Ethiopia second ahead of Morocco.

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