Posted: March 20, 2005

Athletics: Bekele Stays On Top, Winning Fourth World Cross Double

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

ST. GALMIER, France (20-Mar) -- Journalists had to resist the urge to dust off their stories from the last three IAAF World Cross Country Championships today, as Kenenisa Bekele wrapped up his fourth consecutive gold medal double, easily winning the senior men's 12 km in 35:06. His winning margin of 14 seconds would have been even greater if he had now slowed down in the finish straight to blow kisses and wave to the cheering crowd.

"For me this is greater," said Bekele of this year's victories in light of the death of his fiancée, Alem Teshale, on 04-Jan. "I did this alone with grief and joy."

Already the most decorated athlete in the history of these championships, Bekele collected another two gold medals today as his team set back the Kenyans for the second consecutive year in the 12-K, 24 points to 35. His four gold medals over the weekend now tie him with Paul Tergat for the most World Cross Country gold medals, although it should be noted that Tergat only competed in the long cross even after the 4-K was introduced in 1998.

Although he did not win an individual medal, it was Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya who bravely took the race to Bekele. The Kenyan had said last Friday that he was determined to beat his Ethiopian rival, and when Bekele surged late in the fifth lap, Kipchoge stayed with him and continued to apply the pressure. At that point it appeared that the gold medal was still up for grabs.

But just a kilometer later, as Bekele and Kipchoge passed the grandstand for the last time, the Ethiopian took off, and within a few seconds had built an insurmountable lead. He eased away for a victory lap, even though the race wasn't over.

"It's not something that I planned ahead," said Bekele of his surge in the final lap, saying that he just tried to remain vigilant and react to any important moves by his rivals.

But the drama wasn't over for Kipchoge. In the 11th kilometer, Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea caught Kipchoge, and powered home alone to get the silver medal, the first ever by an Eritrean at these championships. But Kipchoge still had to face more grief. With just 30 meters to go, Abdullah Ahmad Hassan, the former Kenyan, Albert Chepkurui, outsprinted Kipchoge to get the bronze in 35:34. Dispirited, Kipchoge stopped three steps before the finish line, allowing Ethiopian Abebe Dinkessa to pass him and take fourth. Kipchoge may have finished fifth, but efforts did not go unnoticed by Bekele.

"Yes, his was a great effort," said Bekele. "I didn't see that the other Kenyans help him, so that was a mistake." He then added, "I felt bad that he didn't get a medal."

The top non-African was multiple European cross country champion, Sergey Lebed of Ukraine. America's top hope, Dathan Ritzenhein, was running as high as 20th early in the race, but his feet blistered badly as his spikes disagreed with him, and faded to 62nd, behind Matt Withrow (60th) and Ian Dobson (61st).

Dibaba Not To Be Out Done

Tirunesh Dibaba, who won yesterday's 8 km event, also took home the gold today in the women's 4 km and became only the second woman to win double World Cross Country titles after Sonia O'Sullivan in 1998. Dibaba turned the corner to the homestraight with a slight lead over teammate Werknesh Kidane and won her fourth gold medal of this year's championships in 13:15. Kenyan Isabella Ochichi, doubling back from the 8-K yesterday, finished third.

"It's very good," said Dibaba. "The mud and logs made it a little bit harder than yesterday. Winning two races, like Kenenisa Bekele, I have dreamed of."

The 1-2 punch of Dibaba and Kidane allowed Ethiopia to win the team title over the Kenyans, 18 to 19. The United States, who did not place a single athlete in the top-10, won the bronze with 67 points. Top finisher Lauren Fleshman (11th) led Blake Russell (15th), Shalane Flanagan (20th) and Shayne Culpepper (21st).

Kenyan Junior Men Still On Top

In the junior men's race the Kenyans not only defended their team title from last year, but swept the top-4 positions to score a perfect ten points. Augustine Choge, the 2003 world youth 3000m and 2004 world junior 5000m champion, led the remaining pack of six athletes at the end of the third of four laps. He and teammate Bernard Kiprop Kipyego had pushed the pace, shaking off the podium threats of all other nations, except Ethiopia, who still had Tariku Bekele (the younger brother of Kenenisa) in the mix.

But in the last kilometer, Choge surged hard and no others could answer. He made the righthand turn onto the grass-covered finish straight with a few strides on Kipyego, and sailed through finish in 23:59 with Kipyego one second behind, and teammate Barnabas Kiplagat Kosgei another second back.

American Galen Rupp was the first non-African, finishing 20th. "I did OK for 4-K, but at 6-K I hit the wall," said Rupp as he tried to u-tie his mud-covered shoes. "I didn't get passed in the last lap, so that was good for me.

It was the first World Cross Country Championships for the 18 year-old Rupp, coached by 3-time ING New York City Marathon winner, Alberto Salazar. "I thought it was about what I expected."