HELSINKI, Finland, 9 August 2005 — Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele capped a tragic year in which he lost his fiancee with an emotional win in the 10,000 meters at the world athletics championships yesterday.
One year after ripping her Achilles tendon, Sweden’s Kajsa Bergqvist completed an amazing comeback by winning the high jump with a world leading jump of 2.02 meters. American Chaunte Howard pushed her all the way with a personal best of 2.00 for silver.
Confirming his domination of long distance running during a one-two Ethiopian finish, the defending and Olympic champion relied on his trademark finishing kick to take the field apart over the last lap and win ahead of Sileshi Sihine. Moses Mosop of Kenya took bronze.
“It is very important for me,” Bekele said of his win. “This year, after I lost my fiancee ... It’s tragic.
“I have sadness in my heart.” Alem Techale died after collapsing during a training session with Bekele on Jan. 4.
Ending weeks of speculation, he also confirmed he would not run the 5,000 later in the championships, forsaking a chance for a double.
The win brought Bekele halfway home to match the achievement of his illustrious compatriot Haile Gebrselassie, who won four world titles and two Olympic 10,000 golds.
Running a tactical race on a wet track in damp conditions, Bekele finished in 27 minutes, 8.33 seconds, 48.02 seconds slower than his world record.
Ethiopia swept the women’s 10,000.
On a good day for Africa, Docus Inzikuru of Uganda won the inaugural women’s steeplechase ahead of Yekaterina Volkova of Russia and Jeruto Kiptum of Kenya.
France’s Christine Arron, seeking to put years of failure behind her and finally become the world’s fastest woman, was the fastest qualifier yesterday in the 100 meter semifinals.
In the second semifinal, Lauryn Williams of the United States beat the season’s top performer, Chandra Sturrup, to set up the clash for gold in the final later Monday.
Arron, a 31-year-old mother, has many critics who accuse her of choking on the big occasion, but in her semifinal heat she recovered from a horrendous start to blaze across the line in 10.96 seconds ahead of Veronica Campbell of Jamaica.
“It was not bad. I had to fight back after the bad start,” Arron said.
In damp and cold conditions at the 40,000-capacity stadium, Olympic silver medalist Williams finished her semifinal in 11.03, edging Sturrup and Olympic champion Yuliya Nesterenko of Belarus. Me’Lisa Barber and Muna Lee of the United States also went through to the final.
Zhanna Block, the 2001 champion from Ukraine, failed to make it, finishing fifth behind Williams.
Defending champion Ivan Tikhon was one attempt away from elimination, but replied with a championship record of 83.89 meters to win the hammer throw. Fellow Belarussian Vadim Devyatovskiy was second.
Late Sunday, Justin Gatlin became the fastest man and promised he had plenty “left in the tank” for his quest to become the most dominating athlete at the nine-day event. No one will doubt it after Sunday’s exhibition of stunning acceleration once his giant stride ripped the field apart.
“He reminds me of how Maurice did that,” US coach John Smith said. “He showed he deserves to be the Olympic champion, now he’s the world champion and he’s started to come into his own.” He finished in 9.88 seconds and beat silver medalist Michael Frater of Jamaica by 17-hundredths of a second. Defending champion Kim Collins was third, also in 10.05.
Finnish Javelin Favorite Ready for Tough Battle
Meantime, For Finns only gold counts in the men’s javelin and the host country of the 10th athletics world championships is pinning its hopes on 22-year-old Tero Pitkamaki who has dominated the discipline this season.
Finns have won three men’s titles and as many silver medals since the inaugural worlds in Helsinki in 1983. With seven gold, seven silver and six bronze Finland has also won more Olympic medals in men’s javelin than any other nation.
“I put the biggest pressure on myself, I don’t take pressure from the outside,” Pitkamaki told a crowded news conference yesterday when asked how he was coping with fans’ expectations.
“The crowds will be cheering for me...I take it as support. It’s great when you have the crowd behind you,” he said.
Competing as the favorite in a world championship on home soil would be “unbelievable” and “amazing,” said the engineering student, who first tried the javelin at the age of nine.
“My goal is to win a medal and I have the chance to win if I succeed well,” said Pitkamaki, who finished eighth at the Athens Olympics last year.
This season he has twice thrown over 90 meters and an additional four times over 85. His personal best from June 26 of 91.53 is also the world leading mark of 2005.
Jan Zelezny, the Czech triple Olympic and world champion, holds the world record with 98.48 from 1996.
Pitkamaki said his form is “better than ever” but warned that Athens Games winner Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway and Russian Sergey Makarov, the world champion from Paris 2003 and third at the last Olympics, will be tough contenders.
“They are in excellent condition,” he said.
Makarov, 32, has thrown 90.33 this year while Thorkildsen’s best this season is 87.66 from a meet in Oslo on July 29 won by Pitkamaki with 90.54.
“Andreas is a very good competitor, (with a) very good head and very stable. He is going to be very tough,” the Finn said.
Asked if Thorkildsen might upstage him in Helsinki, Pitkamaki said: “Maybe, but he has to throw far if he wants to beat me.”
A result around 85-86 meters would probably suffice for the podium and the winner would have to throw over 88 meters, he predicted.
The men’s javelin qualifying competition is on Aug. 9 with the final the next day.
