Date:03/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/03/stories/2006040306351700.htm

Sport - Athletics

Bekele creates history

FUKUOKA: Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele won the men's long race at the World cross country championships on Sunday, taking the title for the fifth straight time.

Bekele, the Olympic and world 10,000m champion, had also won Saturday's short race and is the first athlete to clinch both the 4- and 12-km races five years in a row at the World championships.

``Today's race was tough because of the wind,'' said Bekele. ``The wind made it hard to break away and I needed every ounce of strength to pull away from the other runners.''

Bekele waited until the last kilometre before breaking away from the pack to win in a time of 35m 40s. Sileshi Sihine, also of Ethiopia, was three seconds off the pace in second place, while Kenya's Martin Irungu Mathathi was third in 35:44.

Bekele (23) said after Sunday's race that this would be his last cross country World championships.

``I've achieved everything there is to accomplish in cross country,'' said Bekele. ``I've competed in the cross country World championships for six years and now it's time to step aside and make way for some of the younger athletes.'' He said he would now focus on the Olympics and the World championships.

Kenya's Paul Tergat, who has never won the short race, emerged victorious in the long race five consecutive times from 1995. The short race was introduced in 1998.

The Fukuoka meet marks the last time that both the short and long distance competitions will be staged at the World championships.

In the women's event, Ethiopia's Gelete Burka Bati won the short race with a time of 12:51. Kenya's Priscah Jepleting Ngetich finished second, two seconds behind, while Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia was third in 12:54.

Kenya's Mangata Kimai Ndiwa won the men's 8-km junior race in 23:53, one second ahead of compatriot Leonard Patrick Komon. Bekele's younger brother Tariku took the bronze with a time of 23:56.

Our Special Correspondent adds from Delhi:

As has become the practice, the Indian runners brought up the rear in the championships.

In the men's 12-km event, Dundappa Irappa Akki finished 127th out of 132 finishers in a time of 43 minutes one second. He was seven minutes 21 seconds behind the winner.

In the women's short race, Kavita Raut came 89th among 91 finishers with a time of 16:21, three minutes 30 seconds behind the winner.

On Saturday, Kashinath Aswale ended up 121st out of 126 finishers with a time of 12:54 in the men's 4km race. He was two minutes behind the winner.