News23 Jan 2005


Tariku Bekele out-sprints Zewdie in Elgoibar

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Tariku Bekele wins the 2005 Elgoibar cross country (© Julián Azkue)

Ethiopia’s Tariku Bekele captured a thrilling sprint victory at the “62nd Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza” held today. Bekele beat his countryman Maregu Terefe Zewdie, who secured a one-two for Ethiopia, in an unforgettable final sprint. This was the second win for the Bekele brothers, as Kenenisa won this race back in 2003. In the women’s race today, Kenyan Alice Timbilil was the easy victor.

Men – Joseph carves out race

The pre-race atmosphere in Elgoibar was fantastic as the organisation had been able to bring together a new crop of young and talented Ethiopians in the guise of Tariku Bekele, Worku Bado, Abebe Dinkesa and Meregu Terefe Zewdie, the latter being the oldest of them aged only 22.  Bekele and Wado are still eligible for the junior race at the World Cross Country championships. They all are training-mates in Addis Ababa under the guidance of Tolosa Kotu.

Alongside the Ethiopian contingent the line-up also featured Tanzania’s Fabiano Joseph and Kenya’s Eliud Kirui, while Juan Carlos de la Ossa ran to salvage the European pride.

It was Joseph who ruled the pace for much of the race as he knew he had little chances of winning should it come down to a sprint finish. His front running tactics had its first consequence before halfway when the leading group was down to seven, the four Ethiopians, Kirui, and de la Ossa running behind the twice World Half Marathon silver medallist Joseph.

Surprisingly it was Dinkesa who was first to fade from the lead group and so it became clear that he would not gain revenge over Zewdie who beat him in Seville last Sunday.

Joseph’s pace became brisker and brisker as the race developed and going into the last lap the event was already down to a three-way battle with Joseph always pushing hard closely followed by Bekele in second and Zwedie in third.

Bekele makes final with 30 metres to go

With less than one kilometre left Zewdie tried to break away leaving Joseph with ease. He opened a 5m gap over Bekele, who never surrendered and to the delight of the crowd caught and passed Zewdie with 30m to go!

Only one second covered the first two at the end, Bekele’s winning time being 32:02. Joseph crossed the finish line ten seconds adrift to complete the podium ahead of the 16-year-old Bado, who kept De la Ossa at bay to place fourth, 100 metres behind Bekele.

“Fabiano’s pace was very strong but fortunately I managed to live with it and win in the final stages,” said Bekele. “My coach Tolosa Kotu wants me to run the junior race (8km) at the Worlds in (St-Etienne/St-Galmier) France in March but I would like to compete with the big guys (seniors) in the short race. Anyway, I rule out running two races”, confirmed Bekele, who plans to compete in Algarve (Portugal) next week.

Runner-up Zewdie said: “I now fly back home to prepare for the Ethiopians trials on the last weekend of February. There will be very strong athletes at the Worlds in France but my target is to better my bronze medal (short race) from last year.”

Women - Timbilil unchallenged

The women’s race witnessed a commanding win by Kenya’s Alice Timbilil. Right from the start Hungary’s Aniko Kalovics set a swift pace and managed to build a 30m gap over the chasing group. But the 2003 European Cross Country bronze medallist’s lead was to be short-lived and Timbilil joined her with tremendous ease and pulled away from the Hungarian before the third kilometre.

From then on the 21-year-old Timbilil widened her advantage over Kalovics and romped home ten seconds clear with Portugal’s Jessica Augusto taking the minor podium place another 23 seconds behind.

“There was mud and winning the race was been more difficult than expected. I return now to Kenya to be ready for my country’s trials which will take place on 12 February.”

Asked about her chances to better her fourth place at last year’s World Cross Country Championships long race, a cautious Timbilil declared: “First of all, I have to make the Kenyan team, which is not an easy task; then we’ll see what happens.”

Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF


Results

Men (10.53km)
1. Tariku Bekele (Eth) 32:02
2. Maregu Terefe Zewdie (Eth) 32:03
3. Fabiano Joseph (Tan) 32:12
4. Worku Bado (Eth) 32:19
5. Juan Carlos de la Ossa (Esp) 32:36
6. Abebe Dinkesa (Eth) 32:55
7. Eliud Kirui (Ken) 33:02
8. Ricardo Serrano (Esp) 33:12
9. Fernando Silva (Por) 33:14
10. Hassan Lekhili (Mor) 33:31

Women (6.47km)
1. Alice Timbilil (Ken) 22:20
2. Aniko Kalovics (Hun) 22:30
3. Jessica Augusto (Por) 22:53
4. Alessandra Aguilar (Esp) 23:16
5. Sara Valderas (Esp) 23:24

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