Awesome Bekele bags double for third time

KENENISA BEKELE maintained his stranglehold on cross-country running with another spectacular double at the world cross-country championships in Brussels.

The 21-year-old Ethiopian won the short course and long course titles for a third successive year in convincing fashion.

His fellow countryman, 19-year-old Gebre-egziab Gebremariam, took silver in both races and the African nation also claimed the bronze medals through Maregu Zewdie (short course) and Sileshi Sihine (long course). Ethiopia also won both team titles.

Alistair Cragg made his debut for Ireland at world championship level in the short course race. He ran a powerful race despite losing ground on the slippery climb to the top of the first hill. The exertions of the NCAA indoor championships last week, when he won both the 3,000m and 5,000m titles for the second successive year, may have told but he said this was a totally different assignment.

“This was not like running against college kids. This is the real deal. I mean Bekele ­ you don’t get any better than those guys,” he said.

“It was muddy, it was slippery and that ruined my rhythm ­ it is not like a running track ­ and I just was not ready for it up that hill. By the time I got to the top I was in oxygen debt. But that’s not an excuse. That’s cross-country running.”

He had targeted a top five placing but said afterwards he was satisfied with his 16th placing.

“I know when I get back to the hotel I’ll be satisfied. I came here with unrealistic expectations but I had to put myself out there to experience it. Next year I promise a higher place,” he said.

Ireland’s other representative in this race, Robert Connolly, finished 64th.

The long course team had to start without the services of national champion, Seamus Power, who is recovering from injury. Mark Kenneally led them home in 72nd place with Peter Matthews, after a slow start, coming through to finish 75th. Vinny Mulvey was 83rd, Dermot Donnelly 102nd and Killian Lonergan 106th.

The two junior men, Mark Christie from Mullingar and Andrew Ledwith from Athboy ran outstanding races with Christie in 43rd and Ledwith in 48th.