Athletics: Bekele achieves 'double double' titles

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND - Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele claimed a double world title success at the world cross-country championships yesterday to repeat his exploits of a year ago.

The 20-year-old had entered the record books as the first man to win both long and short course titles in Dublin last year, and he overcame illness to emulate the achievements in Lausanne with a historic performance.

Bekele retained the short course title with a sprint finish on the first day of the championships and dominated yesterday's 12.3km long course race to secure an unprecedented double double.

His participation in both races in Switzerland had been uncertain after he was unable to prepare fully for the championships because of a blood disorder.

Bekele completed the course in a time of 35m 56s - 13s clear of Ivuti who grabbed second from Gebremariam in the closing stages.

But Bekele's victory was not enough to claim the team title for Ethiopia as Kenya held on to the crown for the 18th successive year.

In the earlier women's short course race, Kenyan Edith Masai defended her title and denied Ethiopian Werknesh Kidane a double success.

Masai came home in a time of 12m 43s -01s ahead of Kidane - to retain the title she won in Dublin last year.

Kenyan Jane Gakunyi helped Kenya to the team title after finishing third ahead of compatriot Isabella Ochichi.

Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba, who took the junior women's title, came home seventh, 11s behind Masai.

The junior men's title was won by Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge after a closely fought battle.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's Phil Costley ran a solid race to finish 32nd in the long course race.

Costley held on to his position well for the second half of the race and looked comfortable throughout to record New Zealand's best individual finish in the men's event since 1987.

Supporting team members for Costley were Rees Buck, who replaced Michael Aish, Scott Winton and Matt Holder.

Buck performed creditably to finish in 61st place. He ran conservatively but progressed through each lap.

In his first international, Scott Winton started well but faded as the race proceeded with team-mate Holder keeping in contact all the way. The pair swapped positions at one stage but Winton finally led into the finish. They finished 83rd and 85th respectively.

In the women's short race Melissa Moon and Kimberley Smith were together for the whole race finishing in 61st and 62nd places.

Moon looked to be moving more freely yesterday after a disappointing long race. Rachel Penney and Sonia Barry finished in 86th and 89th place respectively.

- NZPA