Athletics: Three gold for Ethiopians

LAUSANNE - Kenenisa Bekele successfully defended his world cross-country short-course title yesterday, helping Ethiopia to take the overall honours.

Three gold medals went to Ethiopia, with only Kenya's team victory in the men's short-course race preventing an Ethiopian clean sweep on the opening day of the championships.

Bekele, who was laid low by a blood disorder in the lead-up to the event, finished ahead of Kenya's John Kibowen.

Bekele, who created history last year when he became the first man to win the short and long-course in Dublin, outsprinted Kibowen 150m from the finish of the 4000m race to retain his title.

The 20-year-old finished three seconds clear of Kibowen after completing the course in 11m 01s.

Benjamin Limo was third to help Kenya to win the team title ahead of Ethiopia.

It was Kenya's sixth successive team victory since the 4000m race was added to the championships in 1998.

In the women's long-course race, Ethiopian Worknesh Kidane took the title as Deena Drossin was denied for the second year in succession.

Drossin, who finished runner-up to Briton Paula Radcliffe in Dublin last year, was forced to settle for silver again after being outsprinted in the closing stages.

The American had led from the start and only Kidane, 21, kept pace before passing Drossin on the final lap of the 8000m race.

Kidane, the 1999 junior world champion, finished in 25m 52s, with Drossin, who sported a yellow ribbon which she said was to promote peace, 9s adrift.

Merima Denboba won the sprint for third place in the chasing pack, but was more than 30s behind fellow Ethiopian Kidane.

The result allowed Ethiopia to retain their team title.

The field of 68 starters was the smallest in the history of the event.

Today's final day of the championships features the women's 4000m short-course race and the men's 12,300m long-course event.

* The New Zealand men's team finished ninth yesterday, the same as in 2001.

National champion Phil Costley led the team home with his 30th placing.

Adrian Blincoe was 42nd, Rees Buck 45th and Mike Aish 69th.

Nick Willis was the non-scoring team member in 92nd position.

The New Zealand team scored 150 points, a considerable improvement on the 196 they managed two years ago.

Clare Goodwin marked her debut in international company by finishing 45th among 104 starters in the junior women's individual race.

Melissa Moon was 54th in the women's individual race which attracted 63 entries.

- AGENCIES