English

Hello 

Create Profile

Creating your profile will enable you to submit photos and stories to get published on News24.


Please provide a username for your profile page:

This username must be unique, cannot be edited and will be used in the URL to your profile page across the entire 24.com network.

Settings

Location Settings

News24 allows you to edit the display of certain components based on a location. If you wish to personalise the page based on your preferences, please select a location for each component and click "Submit" in order for the changes to take affect.









Facebook Sign-In

Hi News addict,

Join the News24 Community to be involved in breaking the news.

Log in with Facebook to comment and personalise news, weather and listings.

 
 

Bekele in a class of his own

2008-08-17 18:43
line

Beijing - Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia defended his 10 000m title medal at the Olympics on Sunday, producing a devastating burst of speed on the last lap to see off any pretenders.

The 26-year-old triple world champion clocked a new Olympic record of 27min 01.17sec, with compatriot Sileshi Sihine claiming silver - as he did at the Athens Games in 2004 - in 27:02.77.

Kenyan Micah Kogo ensured there was no Ethiopian cleansweep, taking bronze in 27:04.11.

Bekele's 35-year-old team-mate Haile Gebrselassie, Olympic 10 000m champion in 1996 and 2000, came in sixth. Together, the two runners have ensured Ethiopian dominance in the event for a fourth successive Olympic Games.

Just as female compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba had done to win Friday's 10 000m, Bekele hit the front just as the bell rung for the final lap, in perfect long-distance running conditions at the National Stadium.

Within the space of just a few seconds, Bekele had opened up the decisive gap between himself and the chasing pack.

Gebreselassie followed but in vain as he was overtaken by Sihine, who kicked past Kogo for second spot with 300m to go.

Manhandled by Kogo

Bekele, the world record holder over both 5&Nbsp;000m and 10 000m, kicked again with 200m to go as Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse was manhandled by Kogo around the final bend.

Kogo just saw off Kenyan team-mate Moses Ndiema Masai for bronze, with Tadesse coming in fifth at 1sec, with Gebrselassie a further 1.57sec adrift.

Eritrean Kidane Tadesse had guided the main peloton through the halfway point of the race at 13min 48.00sec.

With 10 laps to go, the pack reshuffled as runners battled for position, and Gebrselassie briefly took up the lead, to the cheers of a large flag-waving Ethiopian contingent of fans following tucked in the stands by the finish line.

Qatar's Ahmad Hassan Abdulladh and Kenyan Martin Mathathi pushed the early pace, with the main contenders happy to follow in their wake.

With three laps to go, the main group had reduced to seven, but Bekele was in ominous form and bided his time for the final attack.

The question now for Bekele is whether he will attempt the double after twice falling just short, in Athens and the 2003 world championships where he came away with a silver and bronze resepctively.

The men's 5 000m heats are scheduled for Wednesday, with the final coming on Saturday.

Read News24’s Comments Policy

inside news24

 

140
1
1 of 10
 
Traffic
Lottery
 
  • Wednesday Ladysmith - 22:09 PM
    Road name: N11 Both Ways
    ROADWORK - two sets of stop / go controls just south of the R68 Dundee exit - expect waiting times of up to 20 minutes between Ladysmith and Newcastle (ends March 2013)
  • Saturday Pretoria - 08:07 AM
    Road name: N1 Both Ways
    ROADWORKS - lane closures on both carriageways for long term roadworks between the N4 Witbank Highway Interchange and the Zambesi Drive exit - EXPECT DELAYS (until Jan 2013)
 
More traffic reports...
 

Jobs [change area]

Cars[change area]

VOLKSWAGEN

CitiGolf 1.4i 5-dr MY04
2007
R 72,995.00

VOLKSWAGEN

Jetta 5 2.0 TDi Sportline Dsl
2006
R 149,900.00

VOLKSWAGEN

CitiGolf 1.4i 5-dr MY04
2007
R 72,995.00

Property [change area]

Vulintaba Country Estate, Upper Drakensberg

A lifestyle estate beyond compare. Home Package Options From R990 000

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Casa Rex, Vilanculos

Spend 5 nights in at the magical Mozambican resort of Casa Rex from R7983 per person sharing. Includes accommodation, return flights, taxes and transfers. Book now!

Kalahari.com - shop online today

Legos

Let your child construct his own fun with only his imagination limiting his creations. Buy now.

iPad

Update the way you socialize, work and play with the latest iPad models. Buy now.

Max Payne 3

Seeking Redemption from the past, Max hopes to enter his last fight and finally put his demons to rest. Buy now.

Sins of the Father

Foul play in New York City sets the tone. Boundaries pushed, Loyalties tested and secrets unravelled in Jeffrey Archer’s, Sins of the Father. Buy now.

Nikon Camera Range

Capture and preserve your life’s precious memories with the Nikon Camera Range. Buy now.

OLX Free Classifieds [change area]

pool table

For Sale, Toys - Games - Hobbies in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 6

Lexus: IS

Vehicles, Cars in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 7

stylish bachelor furnished in sandton from 1st of june

Real Estate, Houses - Apartments for Rent in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 7

Gobii eReader

Only R899.95

Affordable, compact & elegant there has never been a better time to start your ebook adventure than with the Gobii.

Visit www.kalahari.com for millions of books, music, DVDs, games & more!

Apple iPad 2 White 16GB 9.7" Tablet With WiFi & 3G

Two cameras for FaceTime and HD video recording. The dual-core...

From R4999.00

I'm shopping for:

Horoscopes
Aquarius
Aquarius

You hardly need an invitation to spend time with your friends, but today you truly resemble a social butterfly. Revel in the...read more

There are new stories on the homepage. Click here to see them.