What a difference a year makes!After the dismal performance in Mombasa one year ago, the Ethiopian team swept all four individual titles (feat last accomplished back in 1994!) and two out of the four team titles at the World Cross-Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland today.
The dominating performance displayed by the entire Ethiopian squad was punctuated by the record breaking sixth title of Kenenisa in the senior Men’s race. After losing his shoe on the first lap, and falling behind some 15 sec in the race as he stopped to put it back on, Kenenisa gradually worked his way back to the front and ultimately opened an insurmountable gap on his pursuers on the last lap.
The ease with which Kenenisa won the race disguises the furious pace forced by Zeresenay Tadesse of Eritrea and Komon of Kenya in an attempt to break Kenenisa early. Not only did Kenenisa withstand the assault, but he was able to pull ahead at will in the decisive final lap. Keneinsa’s performance was lauded by one of the race commentators as “the best running performance I have ever seen.”
Congratulations Team Ethiopia for one of the greatest days of Ethiopian athletic achievement!
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More:
Ethiopia romp home to their first ever sweep of all four individual golds – Edinburgh 2008
Bekele wins record-setting sixth world cross-country title, Dibaba wins women's race
Peerless Bekele crowns glorious day for Ethiopia
Bekele claims record sixth title
