East Africa

Bekele sets new Olympics 10,000m mark to take gold

2008-08-17T19:37:12+00:00

Ethiopia's reigning Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele retained his Olympic 10,000m title, his second Olympic gold medal, after outruning a quality field in 27 minutes and 1.17 seconds - a new Olympic record at the Beijing's Bird Nest stadium.

Compatriot and perenial silver medallist Sileshi Sihine took silver again in 27:02.77 while Micah Kogo of Kenya secured bronze in 27:04.11, but Ethiopian veteran Haile Gebrselassie could only finish sixth, ending his dream of a third Olympic gold medal.

Bekele sliced almost four seconds off the Olympic record he set at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, finishing in 27:01.17. The quality of the field was so high that the first four finishers all beat the old Olympic record of 27:05.10.

Afterwards, Bekele told the media: "It's was a very big goal for me to win this title - my dreams have come true to win tonight.

"The race was fantastic, there was no pacemaker and everyone was pushing. No-one could push any harder."

"It is a big gift. I will now try to run the 5,000 metres. It is not easy to run the two events. It will be a strong race," he added

Bekele is the sixth man to have won back-to-back Olympic titles in the Men's 10000m.

Aldama, Jaber lead Sudan to African Championships

2008-04-14T23:19:59+00:00

All-African Games 400m hurdles champion Muna Jaber and triple jump winner Yamile Aldama will lead a strong Sudanese squad for the 16th CAA African Athletics Championships in Addis Ababa.

The strong squad also includes two former world youth champions- 2003 400m boys champion Nagmeldin Ali Abubaker and 2005 girls 400m winner Nawal El Jack- and an 800m Olympian in Ismael Ahmed Ismael.

MEN - Sudan boosted by strong medal hopes

Over the last five years, Sudan has been one of Africa’s emerging countries. And the runner who in many ways kick-started the resurgence in 2003 will be among those hoping to blossom in the Ethiopian capital.

At the world youth championships in Sherbrooke, Canada nearly five years ago, a little-known Nagmeldin Ali surprised many by winning Sudan’s first ever continental title over the 400m. Although the 25-year old has failed to rich such high scales ever since, his precarious talent could make him one of the favourites for medals in Addis Ababa.

Besides Ali, Sudan will also have their first and only Olympic track finalist Ismael Ahmed Ismael competing over the 800m, one of the expected highlight events of Addis 2008.

WOMEN - Jaber and Aldama are the stars

Sudan will have even more medal hopes in the women squad than the men. All-African Games champions, Muna Jabir (400m hurdles) and Yamile Aldama (triple jump) will be the favourites in their respective events after scaling to such continental heights last year.

Nawal Eljack, the 2005 World youth 400m champion, is another medal hopeful in the talented Sudanese squad.

Sudan squad for Addis 2008:

MEN
400m: Nagmeldin Ali Abubakar, Rabah M. Yusuf, Awad Karem Elmaki
400mH: Hafiz Mohamed, Abdulgadir Idriss
800m: Ismael Ahmed Ismael, Abdalla Abdulgadir

WOMEN
400m: Nawal Eljack
400mH: Muna Jaber, Faiza Omar
800m: Amina Bakhit, Gibril Ehsan
Triple Jump: Yamile Aldama

Mergessa takes Belfast's TQ 10K

2008-04-07T00:00:00+00:00

Ethiopia's Ayele Mergessa has won the men's race at the 2nd Titanic Quarter 10k (TQ 10Km) on a windy Sunday afternoon in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Despite the poor weather conditions, over 600 runners finished the 10k race which started from Queen's Road, through a historical waterfront route including Airport Road and Sydenham Road. Mergessa sped on to victory in 31 minutes and seven seconds.

Kenyan Raymond Tonui took second place in 31.12 seconds and Ireland St Malachy's AC runner Kevin Seaward settled for third place in 31.40 seconds.

However Newcastle AC runner Kerry Harty pulled a surprise win in the women's race by beating Kenyan favourite Joyce Kandia.

The Newcastle athlete pulled away from the Kenyan star in the final kilometre to win in 36 minutes and six seconds. Kandia had to settle for second in 36:24 seconds, whilst North Belfast's Breege Connolly was third in 38.04 seconds.

The Titanic Quarter 10k is open to elite and international competitors as well as local runners, ranging from beginners to experienced athletes.

The event was organised by Athletics Northern Ireland and sponsored by Titanic Quarter, Port of Belfast and the Streat Cafe.

The Full Result of the TQ 10K

Kenyan athletes’ calls for selection change

2008-04-03T00:00:00+00:00

Top Kenyan athletes, including five-time World Cross Country champion and record-holder Paul Tergat has called on Athletics Kenya (AK) to change the intense selection process for the national athletics representatives to international competitions.

Looking back at the team failure at the just concluded 36th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, they urged an urgent review of the training methods and preparations, coaches and athletes as well as the build-up programme to the Beijing Olympics in August.

Tergat, the last Kenyan to win the men's individual 12 km title in 1999, was shocked Kenya failed to win any individual title in Edinburgh for the first time ever since 1986.

He feared that unless a remedy to stop the sharp decline is identified, the country will suffer in the Beijing Olympics as Kenya is gradually losing out in cross country running.

He said: "It is the worst ever in Kenya's history. We don't have any individual medals. it was a disaster.

"We should not use the violence that followed the disputed December elections as an excuse for the debacle in Edinburgh.”

"If we don't have the national team in training camp for two months to enhance team work, it is going to be very difficult for the Kenyans," Tergat added.

Kenya’s head coach, Julius Kirwa, said that technical handlers needed to be given more time to condition athletes for world events that were becoming tougher to win.

He said: "We need to borrow from Ethiopia and identify good championship runners who then should be kept for specialised training for a longer period.

"The short time we are allocated to train a team after selection forces us to rush our training programme and sometimes athletes fail to attain required fitness and mental strength," he added.

Dibaba takes Gold in new Olympic mark

2008-08-15T16:43:05+00:00

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba has set a new Olympic record after running a perfect race to take gold in the women's 10000m today, overtaking Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse with 350m to go and powered home in a time of 29:54.68.

Abeylegesse settled for silver in 29:56.43 and American Shalane Flanagan claims bronze in 30:22.22.

Fourth placed Kenyan Linet Chepkwemoi Masai set a new world junior record as well as a new Kenyan record with a time of 30:26.50.

The previous Olympic record of 30:17.49 was held by Dibaba's fellow Ethiopian heroine Derartu Tulu.

Fasuba, Metu, Zakari crash out

Nigeria's sprint duo of Olusoji Fasuba - the world Indoor 60m champion, Obinna Metu - the reigning national champion, and Ghanaian Aziz Zakari have all crashed out of the Beijing Olympics Games men's 100m at the second round today at the Bird's Nest stadium.

Fasuba, fourth in the 2nd rd heat2 in a time of 10.21secs failed to make it as the fastest loser as he was overtaken in the time ranking by Qatar's Nigeria born Samuel Francis, who ran 10.11secs to place fourth in his heat3 won comfortably in 9.92 by the World record-holder and favourite Usain Bolt of Jamaica.

Mutola looks strong

Mozambique's only ever Olympic gold medalist, Maria Lurdes Mutola led the qualifers for the 800m semis in 1:58.91. She won heat four just ahead of Marilyn Okoro of Great Britain, who ran a time of 1:59.09.

Day One results

Women's 10000m Finals

1 Tirunesh Dibaba (Eth) 29:54.66 Gold OR

2 Elvan Abeylegesse (Tur) 29:56.43 Silver

3 Shalane Flanagan (US) 30:22.22 Bronze

4 Linet Chepkwemoi Masai (Ken) 30:26.50

5 Maria Konovalova (Rus) 30:35.84

6 Inga Abitova (Rus) 30:37.35

7 Lucy Kabuu Wangui (Ken) 30:39.96

8 Lornah Kiplagat (Ned) 30:40.27

Men's 400m hurdles semi-finals qualifiers:

Bershawn Jackson (US), Pieter de Villiers (SA), Manhau Suguimati (Brz), Jonathan Williams (Blz), Angelo Taylor (US), Danny Mcfarlane (Jam), Alwyn Myburgh (SA), Bayano Ali Kamani Redman (Pan), Alexander Derevyagin (Rus), Markino Buckley (Jam), Lj van Zyl (SA), MArek Plawgo (Pol), Javier Gulson Perez (Pur), Kerron Clement (US), Periklis Iakovakis (Gre), Isa Phillips (Jam)

Women's triple jump final qualifiers:

Yargelis Savigne (Cub), Victoria Gurova (Rus), Olga Rypakova (Kaz), Anna Pyatykh (Rus), Marija Sestak (Slo), Hrysopiyi Devetzi (Gre), Tatyana Lebedeva (Rus) Francoise Mbango Etone (Cam), Olga Saladukha (Ukr), Xie Limei (Chn), Kaire Leibak (Est), Tricia-Kaye Smith (Jam)

Men's shot put final:

1 Tomasz Majewski (Pol) 21.51m Gold

2 Christian Cantwell (US) 21.09m Silver

3 Andrei Mikhnevich (Blr) 21.05m Bronze

4 Dylan Armstrong (Can) 21.04m

5 Pavel Lyzhyn (Blr) 20.98m

6 Yuriy Bilonog (Ukr) 20.63m

7 Reese Hoffa (US) 20.53

8 Pavel So'fin (Rus) 20.42

9 Rutger Smith (Ned) 20.41

10 Yury Bialou (Blr) 20.06

11 Ivan Yushkov (Rus) 19.67

12 Adam Nelson (US) NM

Women's discus final qualifiers:

Stephanie Brown Trafton (US), Iryna Yatchenko (Blr), Yarelys Barrios (Cub), Melina Robert Michon (Fra), Dani Samuels (Aus), Nicoleta Grasu (Rom), Aretha Thurmond (US), Song Aimin (Chn), Vera Cechlova (Cze), Li Yanfeng (Chn)

Women's Heptathlon standings after 4th round:

1 Hyleas Fountain (US) 4060 points

2 Nataliia Dobrynska (Ukr) 3996

3 Kelly Sotherton (GB) 3938

4 Anna Bogdanova (Rus) 3922

5 Lyudmila Blonska (Ukr) 3912

6 Jessica Zelinka (Can) 3866

7 Jolanda Keizer (Ned) 3864

8 Karolina Tyminska (Pol) 3813

9 Kylie Wheeler (Aus) 3802

10 Tatiana Chernova (Rus) 3749

Selected other: 33 Julie Hollman (GB) 3400

Women's Heptathlon 200m results:

1 Hyleas Fountain (US) 23.21

2 Kelly Sotherton (GB) 23.39

3 Karolina Tyminska (Pol) 23.39

4 Jessica Zelinka (Can) 23.64

5 Tatiana Chernova (Russia) 23.95

6 Jolanda Keizer (Ned) 23.97

7 Lyudmila Blonska (Ukr) 24.14

8 Anna Bogdanova (Rus) 24.24

9 Kylie Wheeler (Aus) 24.28

10 Olga Kurban (Rus) 24.34

Selected other: 33 Julie Hollman (GB) 25.41

Women's 3000m steeplechase 2nd round qualifiers:

Gulnara Galkina-Samitova (Rus), Ruth Bosibori Nyangau (Ken), Wioletta Frankiewicz (Pol), Cristina Casandra (Rom), Tatiana Petrova (Rus), Roisin Mcgettigan (Ire), Jennifer Barringer (US), Zulema Fuentes-Pila (Spa), Eunice Jepkorir (Ken), Marta Dominguez (Spa), Ekaterina Volkova (Rus), Zemzem Ahmed (Eth), Elena Romagnolo (Ita), Anna Willard (US), Habiba Ghribi (Tun)

Women's Heptathlon shot put results:

1 Nataliia Dobrynska (Ukr) 17.29m

2 Austra Skujyte (Lit) 17.02m

3 Jolanda Keizer (Ned) 15.15m

4 Laurien Hoos (Ned) 14.98m

5 Niina Kelo (Fin) 14.82m

6 Lilli Schwarzkopf (Ger) 14.61m

7 Kamila Chudzik (Pol) 14.34

8 Sonja Kesselschlager (Ger) 14.33

9 Lydundmila Blonska (Ukr) 14.29

10 Rebecca Wardell (NZ) 14.28

Selected others: 13 Kelly Sotherton 13.87m (GB), 32 Julie Hollman 12.45m

Men's 100m semi-finals qualifiers:

Churandy Martina (Aho), Michael Frater (Jam) Naoki Tsukahara (Jpn), Richard Thompson (Tri), Tyson Gay (US), Martial Mbandjock (Fra), Marc Burns (Tri), Kim Collins (Skn), Tyrone Edgar (GB), Usain Bolt (Jam) Darvis Patton (US), Francis Obikwelu (Por), Asafa Powell (Jam), Walter Dix (US), Derrick Atkins (Bah), Samuel Adelebari Francis (Qat)

Did not qualify: Simeon Williamson (GB), Craig Pickering (GB)

Men's 1500m second round qualifiers:

Mehdi Baala (Fra), Nicholas Willis (NZ), Daham Naim Bashir (Qat), Tarek Boukensa (Alg), Deresse Mekonnen (Eth), Asbel Kipruto Kiprop (Ken), Nathan Brannen (Can), Juan Carlos Higuero (Spa), Bernard Lagat (US) Antar Zerguelaine (Alg), Juan van Deventer (SA), Arturo Casado (Spa), Andy Baddeley (GB), Abdalaatu (Mor), Lopez Lomong (US), Rashid Ramzi (Bhr), Mohamed Moustaoui (Mor), Augustine Kiprono Choge (Ken), Christian Obrist (Ita), Kevin Sullivan (Can), Carsten Schlangen (Ger), Mulugeta Wendimu (Eth)

Did not qualify: Tom Lancashire (GB)

Women's Heptathlon high jump results:

1 Hyleas Fountain (US) 1.89m

2 Kylie Wheeler (Aus) 1.89m

3 Lyudmila Blonska (Ukr) 1.86m

4 Anna Bogdanova (Rus)

5 Marie Collonville (Fra) 1.86m

6 Lucimara Silva (Brz) 1.83m

7 Kelly Sotherton (GB) 1.83m

8 Ganna Melnichenko (Ukr) 1.80m

9 Lilli Schwarzkopf (Ger) 1.80m

10 Jennifer Oeser (Ger) 1.80m

Selected other: 14 Julie Hollman (GB) 1.77m

Men's hammer finalists:

Libor Charfreitag (Svk), Pekka-Olli Karajalainen (Fin), Dilshod Nazarov (Tjk), Ivan Tsikhan (Blr), Koji Murofushi (Jpn), Andras Haklits (Cro), Szymom Ziolkowski (Pol), Vadim Devyatovskiy (Blr), Primoz Kozmus (Slo), James Steacy (Can), Markus Esser (Ger), Krisztian Pars (Hun)

Women's 800m 2nd round qualifiers:

Svetlana Klyuka (Rus), Rosibel Garcia (Col), Anna Rostkowska (Pol), Yuliya Krevsun (Ukr), Tatiana Andrianova (Rus), Jennifer Meadows (GB), Pamela Jelimo (Ken), Kenia Sinclair (Jam), Elodie Guegan (Fra), Maria Mutola (Moz), Marilyn Okoro (GB), Lucia Klocova (Svk), Zulia Calatayud (Cub), Hasna Benhassi (Mor), Ekaterina Kostetskaya (Rus), Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei (Ken), Tetiana Petlyuk (Ukr), Brigita Langerholc (Slo), Egle Balciunaite (Lit), Elisa Cusma Piccione (Ita)

Men's 100m 2nd round qualifiers:

Usain Bolt (Jam), Daniel Bailey (Ant), Vicente Lima (Brz), Jenris Vizcaino (Cub), Asafa Powell (Jam), Kim Collins (Skn), Craig Pickering (GB), Daniel Grueso (Col), Dariusz Kuc (Pol), Richard Thompson (Tri), Martial Mbandjock (Fra), Simone Collio (Ita), Aziz Zakari (Gha), Andrew Hinds (Bah), Michael Frater (Jam), Pierre Browne (Can), Darrel Brown (Tri), Nobuharu Asahara (Jpn), Tyson Gay (US), Olusoji Adetokunbo Fasuba (Nga), José Carlos Moreira (Brz),Angel David Rodriguez (ESP), Tyrone Edgar (GB), Doc Patton (US), Ronald Pognon (Fra), Hu Kai (Chn), Francis Obikwelu (Por), Obinna Metu (Nga), Walter Dix (US), Anson Henry (Can), Derrick Atkins (Bah), Andrey Epishin (Rus), Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (Nor), Uchenna Emedolu (Nga), Samuel Adelebari Francis (Qat), Marc Burns (Tri), Matic Osovnikar (Slo), Churandy Martina (Nan), Naoki Tsukahara (Jpn), Simeon Williamson (GB), Tobias Benjamin Unger (Ger).