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Kenenisa Bekele successfully defends 10,000-meter title

Posted on , Updated on by Elias Kifle

(AP) BEIJING — Kenenisa Bekele has successfully defended his Olympic 10,000 meters title in a games record, leading teammate Sileshi Sihine again in an Ethiopian 1-2 finish.

Kenenisa hit the front 450 meters from the finish Sunday and crossed in 27 minutes, 01.17 seconds to beat the record he set at Athens four years ago.

Sileshi Sihine, who was second at the Athens Olympics and at the last two world championships, took silver at 27:02.77, and Kenya’s Micah Kogo won the bronze medal in 27:04.11.

Haile Gebrselassie, 35, who won the 10,000 at the 1996 and 2000 Games, faded to finish in sixth place. He switched to the marathon after the Athens Olympics, where he finished fifth in the 10,000, but opted against competing at the marathon in Beijing because of pollution concerns.

… more from Reuters

Kenenisa Bekele retains 10,000 title

(By Mitch Phillips, Reuters) BEIJING — World record holder Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia secured what he hopes will be the first leg of the long-distance double when he retained his Olympic 10,000 metres title with a devastating last lap on Sunday.

After tracking the leaders for most of the race, Kenenisa let rip over the last 400 metres to finish well clear of team mate Sileshi Sihine, who also got silver behind him in Athens, and Micah Kogo snatched bronze for Kenya.

Haile Gebrselassie’s bid for an emotional third gold after his triumphs in 1996 and 2000 fell short when he finished sixth.

Kenenisa has said he hopes to race the 5,000 metres but will decide after Sunday’s race.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)

14 thoughts on “Kenenisa Bekele successfully defends 10,000-meter title”

  3. We are really pround of you, guys!!!!!! Keneni, Sileshi & Tirunesh were and are remained to be amazing to us and to the whole world at large. You did a fabulous job!!!Keep it up!! Cogradulations!!!

  7. Great that Kenenisa won followed by Silehsi. But dreamed of something special when Haile decided to compute in this race. I know he is a man of what he says. No problem, he motivated and contrbuted a lot but still Kenienisa is the anbessa. Proud of you. Keep it up. Let us at least relax with this.

  8. It is amazing.Once again our heart filled with joy due to the wonder our brothers and sister did in Bejing.I wish we all do what is expected from us in our mandate and line of responsibility with clean motive and good heart.So that there will be a real seed of love and unity.

    Thank you Turunesh(Turuye) Keneni,Seleshi and every body there in Bejing.

  11. Congrats all proud Ethiopians! I knew no one can challenge Ethiopian runners because they’re the best. Kenyan runers are very good as well, but they’re not dedicated like Ethiopian runners. The new comers Eritrean runners tried their best to lead the first few lapes, however, they disappeared in a short period of times.

    Chris Lee
    LA

  14. We expect a 1-2-3 finish in the women’s 5,000 m, 1-2 or 1-3 finish in the men’s 5,000 m, a gold in the Marathon, 1 or 2 medals in the 1500m men and women, 3000 steeple-chase, men and women and our dreams will be achieved.

    The society should encourage the youth to be more ambitious and diversivy the disciplines. Till when are we going to be limited to only long and middle-distance running? I wish our boys move towards this goal.

    Thank you our hero Kenenisa!Thank you my beautiful and splendid Tirunesh! Thank you Sileshi, Thank you our tireless and stubborn Haile! You made us wild of joy. We love you!

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