News04 Mar 2005


Bekele named in Ethiopia’s squad for World Cross Country Championships

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Bekele heads the men's short race (© Getty Images)

Addis Ababa, EthiopiaWorld and Olympic 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele has been entered in Ethiopia’s 4km short and 12km long race teams as the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) named its provisional squad of athletes for the 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships in St-Etienne/St-Galmier, France.

But there is no such luck for Sileshi Sihine who will miss the championships after failing to recover from a knee injury sustained days ten days ago.

Bekele selected for double races
 
The 22-year-old Bekele withdrew from last weekend’s (Feb 26-27) 22nd Jan Meda International Cross Country, the final qualifying meet for the World Cross to recover from his second defeat in a month losing to fellow countryman Markos Genetti in the 3000m in Birmingham.

Although the 2004 World Athlete of the Year has suffered a dip in form in the last two months after the tragic death of his fiancée Alem Techale, he has been entered to take part in both the short and long course races in France.

Even before the tragic loss of his fiancée, Bekele had hinted at only contesting the long course race but according to Dube Julo, the EAF’s Technical Director, Bekele will ‘definitely’ take part in both races. “I can confirm that Kenenisa [Bekele] will run both races in France,” he said.

Sihine loses fitness battle

There was bad news for Ethiopia’s other rising running star and Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Sileshi Sihine, who has lost out in his battle to be fit for the championships. Like Bekele, the 21-year old missed the Ethiopian trials due to injury and faced a last-gasp effort to be fit in time for selection.

But Julo confirmed that Sihine is now definitely out of the championships. “His knees have failed to heal in time,” he said. “He will not take part in the championships.”

Six athletes entered in both distances

Apart from Bekele, there are six other Ethiopian runners who have been entered in both the short and long races. Dejene Berhanu, fifth in the Olympic 5000m final, and double World Cross Country silver medallist Gebregziabher Gebremariam have also been entered in both events.

The new World Indoor 5000m record holder Tirunesh Dibaba leads a trio of women who are set to take part in both the senior women’s events. After her fourth and third place finishes respectively last year, Werknesh Kidane hopes to return back to the kind of form that saw her win gold and silver in the 2003 championships in Lausanne. World Junior cross country champion Meselech Melkamu will hope to transform her second and first place finishes in the trials last weekend to medals in France, while 20-year Ethiopian 10,000m track bronze medalist Bizunesh Bekele will also be doing battle against the elite women in both races.

Ethiopia are expected to announce their final squad a week before the beginning of the championships on 19 March.

Elshadai Negash for the IAAF 

Ethiopian provisional team for the 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships in St. Etienne/ St. Galmier, France

6km Junior Women
Gelete Burka
Hirut Mengistu
Werkitu Ayana
Alemitu Abera
Azalech Masresha
Belaynesh Zemedkun

4km Senior Women
Tirunesh Dibaba
Werkenesh Kidane
Ejegayehou Dibaba
Meselech Melkamu
Bizunesh Bekele
Derebe Alemu

8km Senior Women
Tirunesh Dibaba
Werkenesh Kidane
Meselech Melkamu
Gete Wami
Merima Hashim
Bizunesh Bekele

 

8km Junior Men
Solomon Molla
Tariku Bekele
Kabtamu Reta
Abdissa Dissassa
Chala Leme
Mekuria Tadesse

4km Senior Men
Kenenisa Bekele
Dejene Berhanu
Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam
Maeregu Zewde
Mohammed Awel
Abera Chane

12km Senior Men
Kenenisa Bekele
Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam
Dejene Berhanu
Abebe Dinkessa
Eshetu Gezhagne
Mekuria Tadesse

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