By LYNN ZINSER
Published: August 23, 2008
BEIJING — As the heat intensified during the men’s Olympic marathon Sunday morning, the field hung on the hope that Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya could not possibly keep up the blistering pace he helped set from the race’s very first steps.
But one by one, those hopes melted in the heat, something Wanjiru never did. He pulled away from his final challenger with six kilometers to go and charged into the Olympic stadium alone, not just winning Kenya’s first gold medal in the marathon but shattering the Olympic record in 2 hours 6 minutes 32 seconds.
Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia overtook his countryman Deriba Merga on the final lap inside the stadium to win the bronze medal in 2:10.00. Martin Lel of Kenya finished fifth. Read More.
Kenenisa Bekele Hands Ethiopia Another Olympic Glory
From the Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Above photo: Getty Images
August 23
(BEIJING) — Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele has taken the gold medal in the final of the Men’s 5000m in a new Olympic record time of 12:57.82 at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He also won the Men’s 10000m in these Games.
The win comes after fellow Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba won gold in both the Women’s 5000m and 10000m.
Athens 2004 silver medalist Bekele now becomes the third Ethiopian, behind Miruts Yifter (Moscow 1980) and Dibaba (Beijing 2008), to take gold in the distance double.
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge took silver in a time of 13:02.80, being renowned for performing on the big stage, something he proved by winning gold at the 2003 world championships and silver at the same event in 2007.
Rounding out the podium was Kenyan Edwin Cheruiyot Soi, who ran a season best of 13:06.22 to take bronze.
Moses Ndiema Kipsiro of Uganda took fourth place in a time of 13:10.56, having won bronze at the World Championships in 2007 and becoming the African champion over 10000m in 2006.
Bekele’s younger brother, reigning World Indoor Champion Tariku, took sixth place, with a time of 13:19.06.
Reigning world champion Bernard Lagat of the Unites States redeemed himself in the heats after a sub-standard performance in the 1500m, but faltered in the final, coming ninth in 13:26:89.
Kenenisa Bekele (R1) of Ethiopia competes. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
Distance Queen Dibaba Surprises Herself
By Nick Mulvenney
Friday August 22 2008
BEIJING, Aug 22 (Reuters) – Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba surprised herself by winning the Olympic long distance double she sealed with a stunning final-lap sprint in the 5,000 metres on Friday.
The three-times world champion had already won the 10,000m on the opening night of competition at the Bird’s Nest and became the first woman to win both in the relatively short history of women’s long distance running at the Olympics.
“It’s a big achievement for me,” said the 23-year-old.
“When I came from my country I didn’t think I’d win both. I just thought I’d be a good competitor in both events. Now that I have it I’m quite satisfied.” Read More.
Tirunesh Dibaba: The First Woman to Sweep the 5000 and 10000 Olympic Titles
From The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba won her second gold medal at the Beijing Olympics as she took the Women’s 5,000 Meters gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Friday.
Turkey’s Elvan Abeylegesse took the silver in 15:42.74 and another Ethiopian Meseret Defar, the defending champion, won the bronze in 15:44.12.
Ethiopia’s Dibaba Outkicks Rival to Complete a Distance Double (NYT)
Photo Highlight From Our Golden Girl’s victory
Tirunesh Dibaba (Front,L) competes. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
Tirunesh Dibaba celebrates. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
Tirunesh Dibaba celebrates. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
Ethiopia’s Golden Girl: Dibaba Wins Women’s 10000m
From the Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
(BEIJING, August 15) — Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia has won gold and set a new Olympic record in the Women’s 10000m at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 15.
Dibaba’s time of 29:54.66 was enough to break the old record of 30:17.49 set by fellow Ethiopian Derartu Tulu and hold off silver medalist Elvan Abeylegess of Turkey (also born in Ethiopia) who ran a time of 29:56.34. Bronze went to Shalane Flanagan of the United States in a time of 30:22:22.
The world record of 29:31.78 seconds in this event is held by China’s Wang Junxia China, set in 1993. Read More.
The Golden Girl
Tirunesh Dibaba Kenene celebrates after crossing the line.
(Photo credit: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)
Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey (born in Ethiopia) and Tirunesh Dibaba Kenene.
(Photo credit: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)
Tirunesh Dibaba Kenene celebrates. (Photo credit: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)
Dibaba planning long-distance double
Reuters
By Sabrina Yohannes
Thursday, August 14, 2008
BEIJING (Reuters) – World 10,000-metre champion Tirunesh Dibaba says she expects to run both the 10,000 and 5,000m events in Beijing, hoping to become the first woman to scoop the Olympic distance double.
In 2005 Dibaba became the first woman to win both races at a world championships when she led an Ethiopian podium sweep in both events in Helsinki.
She retained the 10,000 title in Osaka last year after suffering from abdominal pain mid-race but skipped the 5,000 days later.
“My expectation is that I will run both,” she told Reuters after arriving in Beijing. “It’s being said that it’s a little hot here, so the final decision will be made after the 10,000.” Read more at Guardian.
