Ethiopian Review

By Rajeev K, DH News Service

BEIJING — Kenenisa Bekele won the 5000M gold medal to add to the 10000M gold he won last Sunday, becoming the first in 28 years to achieve the long distance double…

Despite his string of achievements, Kenenisa Bekele has remained largely under the huge shadow of his illustrious compatriot, Haile Gebrselassie. But on Saturday night at the Bird's Nest, the 26-year-old Ethiopian finally entered a territory that even his great mentor couldn't approach.

Bekele won the 5000M gold medal to add to the 10000M gold he won last Sunday, becoming the first in 28 years to achieve the long distance double. He is only the sixth man in Olympic history to win the double and the first since his countryman Miruts Yifter conquered the two races in 1980.

The ninth day of the track and field programme — athletics events conclude with the marathon on Sunday — was as action-packed as the previous eight days. However, even an upset of Olympian proportions in women's high jump and a spectacular series in javelin by Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway could not overshadow Bekele's feat.

In Athens, the Ethiopian had to settle for silver in the 5000, narrowly losing to Hicham el Guerrouj of Morocco. On paper, American Bernard Lagat was expected to be Bekele's closest challenger here but in reality, there was no one to challenge the young master as he smashed Said Aouita's 24-year-old Olympic record of 13:05.59 with a 12:57.82 effort.

His brother Tariku and countryman Abreham Cherkos set the early pace but there was no doubt as to who was controlling this race. Bekele stayed close to the leaders while Lagat was in the middle of the pack along with Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge and Edwin Cheruiyot Soi.

Bekele firmly hit the front with five laps left and went on to unleash his final burst of speed to silence all opposition. Kipchoge, world champion in 2003, took silver in 13:02.80 and Soi was third in 13:06.22. Lagat's misery was complete as he ended ninth.

“I have achieved many things before, but this is very special. It is a fantastic feeling,” said Bekele. “I made some mistakes in Athens, now I am more experienced. I think about the races more,” he added.

Vlasic beaten

Tia Hellebaut, a complete outsider, ended Vlasic's long unbeaten streak in women's high jump. Belgian Hellebaut struggled to clear 2.01 and 2.03 but she went over first time at 2.05. Vlasic, the world champion and hot favourite here, could do it only in her second chance. She then failed at 2.07, a height that was insurmountable to Hellebaut as well.

“I don't believe it, I still don't believe it,” said the bespectacled 30-year-old. “Blanka has not lost for over a year, it is a complete surprise.” Vlasic said she was feeling a bit bitter. “What can I do, luck was not with me today. But my motivation is bigger than before,” she said.

Norway's Thorkildsen defended his Athens gold medal with an Olympic record of 90.57 metres. He threw down the gauntlet with a first round effort of 84.72 and kept going past that mark in the subsequent rounds – 85.91, 87.93, 85.13 and 90.57 – before fouling the last throw. Ainars Kovals of Latvia jumped to silver position in the last round with 86.64, edging past Tero Pitkamaki of Finland (86.16). Americans put behind the disasters in shorter relays, claiming both the men's and women's 4×400 while Kenya had two gold medals on the final day. Wilfred Bungei finally won a global title in the 800 before Nancy Langat clinched their first-ever gold in women's 1500M. World champion Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain ended fourth.

Results: Men: 800M: Wilfred Bungei (Kenya) 1:44.65, 1; Ismail Ismail Ahmed (Sudan) 1:44.70, 2; Alfred Kirwa Yego (Kenya) 1:44.82, 3.

5000M: Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 12:57.82 (Olympic record. Old: 13:05.59), 1; Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 13:02.80, 2; Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (Kenya) 13:06.22, 3.

Javelin throw: Andreas Thorkildsen (Norway) 90.57 metres (Olympic record. Old: 90.17), 1; Ainars Kovas (Latvia) 86.64, 2; Tero Pitkamaki (Finland) 86.16, 3.

4×400M relay: United States (LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor, David Deville, Jeremy Wariner) 2:55.39 (Olympic record. Old: 2:55.74), 1; Bahamas 2:58.03, 2; Russia 2:58.06, 3.

Women: 1500M: Nancy Jebet Langat (Kenya) 4:00.23, 1; Iryna Lischynska (Ukraine) 4:01.63, 2; Nataliya Tobias (Ukraine) 4:01.78, 3.

High jump: Tia Hellebaut (Belgium) 2.05 metres, 1; Blanka Vlasic (Croatia) 2.05, 2; Anna Chicherova (Russia) 2.03, 3.

4×400M relay: United States (Mary Winberg, Allyson Felix, Monique Henderson, Sanya Richards) 3:18.54, 1; Russia 3:18.82, 2; Jamaica 3:20.40, 3.