HELSINKI, 7 August 2005 — Jefferson Perez of Ecuador yesterday won back- to-back world championship titles in the 20-kilometer walk in the first medal event of the 2005 edition.
Perez broke a leader group in the second half of the race to win in 1 hour 18 minutes 35 seconds. Spain’s Francisco Fernandez had to settle for silver like at the 2003 worlds and 2004 Olympics in 1:19.35 and fellow-Spaniard Juan Manuel Molina got bronze in 1:19.44 hours.
Success came two hours after Finnish President Tarja Halonen officially opened the 10th edition of the worlds bringing together 1,891 athletes from 196 countries who will compete in 47 medal events. Two further finals were scheduled for last night, the men’s shot put and the women’s 10,000m.
In preliminary action, Olympic champion Justin Gatlin cruised into the 100m semifinals by winning his heat in 10.27 seconds into a strong head wind.
Defending champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis was slowed down by cramps but also just managed to advance with 10.32 seconds as the last qualifier.
“I was cramping. I just had to finish the race,” Collins said. Darrel Brown of Trinidad and Tobago led the way into the semis with 10.10 seconds.
In the heptathlon, the reigning world and Olympic champion Carolina Kluft of Sweden shrugged off an ankle injury as she rallied from a huge deficit to trail French 1999 world champion Eunice Barber by just two points overnight after four disciplines, 3,973 to 3,971 points.
Kluft was 153 points behind Barber after the 100m hurdles and high jump, which she completely messed up due to injury fears. But a personal best shot put of 15.02m and a strong 200m race brought her back in contention.
Barber said: “I am satisfied because the first day is delicate. I have nothing to lose. Anything can happen. I hope to be perfect tomorrow (today).”
There was heartbreak for Russian Olympic high jump champion Yelena Slesarenko who left in tears after being unable to compete in qualifying due to a sprained ankle.
Earlier in the day another Athens Gold medalist, triple jumper Francoise Mbango Etone of Cameroon, did not start, reportedly due to poor form.
It’s a Family Triumph as Dibaba Leads Ethiopian Clean Sweep
Tirunesh Dibaba led an Ethiopian cleansweep as she won the women’s 10,000 meters world title.
The 19-year-old timed 30min 24.02sec ahead of 2003 champion Berhane Adere, who clocked 30:25.41 while the victor’s sister Ejagayou Dibaba was third in 30:26.00.
It was another sad night for British athletics darling Paula Radcliffe, who finished ninth but at least her brave performance suggested that she had set aside some of the demons from last year’s double flop in the Olympics where she failed to finish both the marathon and this event. The Briton will have another shot at the marathon here on Sunday week. “I said last year that I would race when I wanted to as long as it didn’t affect my main goal and I
Britain’s Weir Wins Men’s 100m Wheelchair Gold
David Weir won the men’s 100m wheelchair world title with a memorable victory which saw home hope and Paralympic champion Leo-Pekka Tahti edged into third.
Weir set a new personal best of 14.15sec to take victory with Kenny van Weeghel of the Netherlands taking silver in 14.19 and Leo-Pekka Tahti of Finland earning bronze in 14.22. “I felt comfortable coming here and warmed up really well. Leo had a good start but I can get more power in the final stages, said Weir.
