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ATHLETICS: DUBLIN: Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia staked his claim to a place in athletics history on Monday by winning the senior men's long-course title at the world cross-country championships. The 19-year-old collected a second gold medal just 24 hours after winning the short-course title, the first person to match the double-victory achievement of Sonia O'Sullivan in 1998. O'Sullivan, a local favourite, was also at the centre of the action as her seventh place in the women's short-course race ensured that Ireland's women snatched the team bronze medal. Ethiopia took team gold and Kenya the silver but the highlight of the day was Bekele, who covered the 12-km course in 34 minutes 52 seconds to become the youngest winner of the classic athletics winter event. Tanzania's John Yuda finished in second place, six seconds back and Wilberforce Talel of Kenya was third, a further 22 seconds behind.

CRICKET: BRISBANE: Queensland won the Australian first-class cricket championship on Tuesday for the third season in a row, defeating Tasmania by 235 runs at the Gabba. Queensland scored 302 and dismissed Tasmania for just 141 in the first innings, then scored another 368 runs and bowled the visitors out for 294 to win early on the fifth afternoon. It was Queensland's fifth domestic title in eight seasons. Tasmania, playing its third final in 20 years and seeking its first title, battled injuries to key players Damien Wright (thigh and finger) and David Saker (calf). Michael Kasprowicz finished with nine wickets including last two wickets of the final. Allrounder Andrew Symonds hit 91 in Queensland's first innings and took 2-20. Tasmanian bowler Shane Jurgensen finished on the losing side but his 11-172 was the most by any bowler since the finals were introduced in 1984- 85.

AUCKLAND: Andre Adams received his first Test call up on Tuesday and Matt Horne and Chris Martin were omitted from the New Zealand side for the third and final cricket Test against England. The Test at Auckland's Eden Park beginning on Saturday could also see one-day specialist Chris Harris play his first Test since October 1999. ``It became clear to us during the second Test there was a need to strengthen our middle- to lower-order batting and come up with some different bowling options,'' Chairman of Selectors Sir Richard Hadlee said after naming the New Zealand 12. The New Zealand team: Stephen Fleming (captain) Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, Ian Butler, Chris Drum, Chris Harris, Craig McMillan, Adam Parore, Mark Richardson, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.

FOOTBALL: LONDON: France looks like it has lost Robert Pires. England is worried about Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard. Germany has almost an entire team sidelined, with Alexander Zickler definitely out of the finals. The World Cup is looming and, with all but two of the 32 finalists in action on Tuesday and Wednesday, the busy club schedules are taking their toll. It should be a time when the national team coaches try to put the finishing touches to their World Cup squads. Instead, injuries have forced them to change their plans. Rivaldo won't be in Brazil's starting line-up; Luis Figo and Rui Costa are missing from the Portuguese line-up; Ireland is without Roy Keane; Italy meets England without Alessandro Del Piero and Paolo Maldini, and Hernan Crespo and Lauren won't be facing each other in the Argentina-Cameroon game. The biggest loss, maybe to the World Cup as well as Arsenal, could be Pires, who has been the Gunners standout player this season.

GOLF: World Golf Ranking: 1. Tiger Woods (USA) 14.25; 2. Phil Mickelson (USA) 9.08; 3. Ernie Els (RSA) 8.42; 4. David Duval (USA) 7.01; 5. Sergio Garcia (Spn) 6.83; 6. David Toms (USA) 5.93; 7. Retief Goosen (RSA) 5.87; 8. Vijay Singh (Fiji) 5.18; 9. Davis Love III (USA) 4.89; 10. Chris DiMarco (USA) 4.85; 11. Mike Weir (Can) 4.59; 12. Padraig Harrington (Ire) 4.45; 13. Jim Furyk (USA) 4.40; 14. Kenny Perry (USA) 4.12; 15. Bernhard Langer (Ger) 4.10.

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