Posted: April 2, 2006

Athletics: Canada’s Kevin Sullivan shines at cross country running worlds

April 1st 2006, FUKUOKA, Japan - Kevin Sullivan of Brantford, Ont., finished an impressive 13th in the men’s four-kilometre race on Saturday at the world cross country running championships, his best result in 10 appearances at the event.

In that race, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia began his drive for five on a successful note with the gold in 10 minutes and 54 seconds. Bekele has won the short and long course races at the cross country worlds the last four years. He’ll go for a fifth consecutive double on Sunday in the men’s 12 kilometre.

Isaac Kiprono Songok of Kenya was second in 10:55 and Adil Kaouch of Morocco third in 10:57.

Sullivan took 13th spot in 11:14. His previous best at the cross country worlds was 17th two years ago in Brussels. But Sullivan was most pleased with bouncing back from a self-described disappointing performance on the track in the 1,500-metre at the Commonwealth Games last week in Melbourne.

‘’I pretty much did what I needed to do,’’ said Sullivan. ‘’I didn’t get out too fast but by 1,000 metres I was able to get myself in the race. I hung on until the breaks came and I finished really strong. I thought it was very solid. This result also really helps my confidence. It shows that last week at the Games was just an off day. It had nothing to do with fitness or preparation.’’

Sullivan said the quick change over from track to trail wasn’t a hindrance.

‘’Normally it might be a difficult change,’’ he said. ‘’But this course was set up well. It was pancake flat and it felt like running on a golf course. So I think running on the track all winter really helped me here in the end.’’

Ryan McKenzie of Windsor, Ont., was 61st, Eric Gillis of Antigonish, N.S., 73rd, Cristiano Mauricio of Leamington, Ont., 88th, Reid Coolsaet of Guelph, Ont., 98th and Taylor Milne of Guelph, Ont., 116th. Canada was 13th in the team standings.

Kenya swept the medals in the junior women’s six kilometre race. Pauline Chemning Korikwiang won the gold medal in a tight finish over Veronica Nyaruai Wanjiru. Both clocked 19:27. Mercy Jelimo Kosgei was third in 19:45.

Kate Van Buskirk of Brampton, Ont., was 45th, Sheila Reid of Newmarket, Ont., 47th, Mandy McBean of Toronto 50th, Anita Campbell of Abbotsford, B.C., 57th, Lindsay Carson of Cambridge, Ont., 59th and Tarah McKay of St. Clements, Ont., 62nd. The Canadians were 10th in the team standings.

‘’I wasn’t thrilled, my goal was to be top-30 with the great season I’ve had so far,’’ said Van Buskirk, 18, the reigning Canadian and North American junior champion. ‘’But unfortunately I got a cramp in my stomach at the four kilometre mark and had to go into survival mode to get my breath back. That’s never happened to me before in a race.’’

In the senior women’s eight-kilometre race, Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia took the gold in 25:21 with Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands second in 25:26 and Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia third in 25.38.

Cari Kuzyk and Kirsty Smith, both of West Vancouver, were 77th and 93rd respectively. Kuzyk was afflicted with a virus last week and was pleased with how she came back from that setback.

Competition ends Sunday with three more races.

Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for the sport of track and field including cross-country running and road running.

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