African athletes are the best

2003-09-14 18:11

Monte Carlo - American sprinter Kelli White has failed in her bid to become World Athlete of the Year, slumping to a fourth place finish in the 100 metres at the inaugural World Athletics Final.

White, competing under a cloud of controversy after testing positive for a minor stimulant earlier this year, needed to smash her personal best of 10.85 seconds and clock 10.77 to overhaul South African high jumper Hestrie Cloete in the women's overall rankings.

Meanwhile, Morocco's Hicham El-Guerrouj took the men's World Athlete of the Year award, despite pulling out of the 1 500 metre race due to fatigue.

White started slowly and seemed to have no power in the final stretch, as countrywoman Chryste Gaines powered to first place with a personal best of 10.86.

Cloete's total of 1 441 points proved enough to take the award and prize money of $1m.

El-Guerrouj, the 1 500 world champion, totaled 1 450 points.

"I'm really happy to be Athlete of the Year for the third time. I'll try to keep going like this, especially as the next year will be very important for me," El-Guerrouj said, looking ahead to the 2004 Athens Olympics.

- SAPA