Bekele makes history

FUKUOKA – Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele completed a historic double by storming to the men’s 12-kilometre title at the world cross-country championships yesterday – then announced he would not be back.

The 23-year-old twice IAAF athlete of the year became the first man to win both the 4 km and 12 km titles five years in a row following his triumph in Saturday’s short race. Bekele, the Olympic and world 10 000 metres champion, broke away from his closest rivals with a powerful finish, crossing the line in 35 minutes 40 seconds at Fukuoka’s seaside course.He then declared he would probably not run at another world cross-country championships.”I cannot achieve anything new,” Bekele told reporters.”I’m leaning towards not competing at the world cross-country anymore.”Fellow Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine took silver in 35:43, partly making up for his disappointment in the 4 km race, where he took a nasty spill and had to settle for 12th.Kenya’s Martin Irungu Mathathi was third in 35:44.Bekele, who has set world records in the 5 000 m and 10 000 m in the last two years, took his tally of track, indoor and cross country titles to 18.The Ethiopian’s win in the long course race also matched the achievement of Kenya’s Paul Tergat, who won the 12 km title at the world cross country championships five years running from 1995.Last year’s junior champion Gelete Burika Bati of Ethiopia won the women’s 4 km title in a time of 12:51.Kenya’s Priscah Jepleting Ngetich was second in 12:53 and Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu third in 12:54.Pre-race favourite Tirunesh Dibaba failed to finish after winning Saturday’s 8 km race.The Ethiopian was aiming to become the first woman to win both races for consecutive years.- Nampa-ReutersBekele, the Olympic and world 10 000 metres champion, broke away from his closest rivals with a powerful finish, crossing the line in 35 minutes 40 seconds at Fukuoka’s seaside course.He then declared he would probably not run at another world cross-country championships.”I cannot achieve anything new,” Bekele told reporters.”I’m leaning towards not competing at the world cross-country anymore.”Fellow Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine took silver in 35:43, partly making up for his disappointment in the 4 km race, where he took a nasty spill and had to settle for 12th.Kenya’s Martin Irungu Mathathi was third in 35:44.Bekele, who has set world records in the 5 000 m and 10 000 m in the last two years, took his tally of track, indoor and cross country titles to 18.The Ethiopian’s win in the long course race also matched the achievement of Kenya’s Paul Tergat, who won the 12 km title at the world cross country championships five years running from 1995.Last year’s junior champion Gelete Burika Bati of Ethiopia won the women’s 4 km title in a time of 12:51.Kenya’s Priscah Jepleting Ngetich was second in 12:53 and Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu third in 12:54.Pre-race favourite Tirunesh Dibaba failed to finish after winning Saturday’s 8 km race.The Ethiopian was aiming to become the first woman to win both races for consecutive years.- Nampa-Reuters