Posted: March 1, 2007

Athletics: EAF Hopeful On Bekele's Participation At World Cross

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com By Elshadai Negash ADDIS ABABA (28-Feb) -- The Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) is hopeful that five-time double world cross country champion Kenenisa Bekele will overturn his "retirement" decision and compete in the 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombassa, Kenya, on March 24. Such is the expectation of the EAF that a place has been left vacant in its squad for the championships should Bekele decide to take part. Reigning world long course champion Tirunesh Dibaba leads the remaining squad after being granted special dispensation to miss the qualifying trails on Sunday, but maintain her place in the squad. With or without Bekele, Ethiopia's chances of medals in the senior men's 12km will rest on Olympic and world 10,000m silver medallist Sileshi Sihine as he continues his recovery from a nine-month spell on the sidelines due to injury. Kenenisa's brother, Tariku, will also make his debut in senior competition in Mombassa, but could find it difficult switching to the longer distance as he regularly competes in distances from 2miles to 5000m. In the junior men, world junior 10,000m champion Ibrahim Jeylan and world junior 5000m silver medallist Abraham Cherkose will be the star names to watch, while trails winner Sule Utara is hopeful of transforming her domestic success to international medals in the junior women's competition. Ethiopian squad for Mombassa 6 km Junior Women: Sule Utara; Emebet Eta’a; Abebu Gelan; Aberu Kebede; Bezunesh Urgessa; Genzebe Dibaba. 8 km Junior Men: Ibrahim Jeylan; Habtamu Fekade; Demesew Tsega; Emana Merga; Tola Bane; Abraham Cherkose. 8 km Senior Women: Tirunesh Dibaba; Meselech Melkamu; Mestawot Tufa; Wude Ayalew; Koreni Jelila; Ahaza Kiros. 12 km Senior Men: Tadesse Tola; Solomon Tsige; Sileshi Sihine; Ketema Negussie; Chala Lemi; Tariku Bekele; Markos Genetti; Abebe Dinkessa.