AP
18 May 2001 – Doha, Qatar - Kenya’s Noah Ngeny, the Sydney Olympic 1500m gold
medalist _ made a bright start to his 2001 outdoor season Friday with an easy victory in
the IAAF’s Grand Prix I meeting.
Ngeny clocked 3:35.17 to take the 1500-metre gold medal in his second visit to Qatar. Last year at the Sydney Olympics, Ngeny beat favorite Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco to win the gold.
On Friday, Ngeny, 22, bested compatriots Enock Koech, who was timed at 3:35:23 to bag the silver medal, and Laban Rotich, who clocked 3:38:27 to take the bronze.
“I had a good run because the warm weather here suits my style,” Ngeny said. “When I arrived here a few days ago I felt a little hot but I got over that discomfort fairly quickly.
“Today’s win was my first this season outdoors. But I’d still like to run harder. I have to better my times,” Ngeny said.
Chris Phillips of the United States won the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.62, just one-hundredth of second slower than his career-best. Phillips, based in Miami, edged South African Shaun Bownes, who was timed at 13.64 while third place went to Ireland’s Peter Coghlan, who finished with 13.74.
“I have never participated in an Olympic Games so I am naturally very happy with this fine run of mine. I must admit I didn’t have a clean race. Now I go back home to prepare for a meet in the Czech Republic set for later this month,” Phillips said.
In women’s events, former Olympic and world champion Astrid Kumbernuss of Germany powered to a gold medal in the shot put. The 32-year-old Kumbernuss registered a distance of 19.51 metres to push Swetlana Kriweljowa of Russia to the second spot.
Kriweljowa reached 19.49 while bronze-medal winner Nadeshda Ostapchuk of Belarus recorded a distance of 18.88.
In the day’s biggest shock, Olympic champion Kamila Skolimowska of Poland failed to sparkle in the women’s hammer throw. Skolimowska finished last out of nine competitors with a best throw of 59.50 metres.
Russia’s Olga Kouzenkova took gold with a throw of 71.57 metres. She was followed by Katalina Divos of Hungary (70.79) and Browyn Eagles of Australia (67.79).
Friday’s meeting came just eight months after the staging of the IAAF Grand Prix Final in the Qatari capital.
