Bekele dominates in Spanish opener
 |  Bekele has proved almost unbeatable over 10,000 meters and cross country events. |
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MADRID, Spain -- Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, winner for the last three years of both the short and long events at the World Cross Country Championship, opened his winter campaign with a victory at the prestigious Venta de Banos race in Spain on Sunday.
Bekele, the Olympic 10,000 meter champion, came home in 30 minutes 25 seconds, 18 seconds ahead of Spain's reigning European 10,000m champion Chema Martinez.
Bekele broke away from his local rival with just under two kilometers to go.
The all-conquering Bekele, 22, confirmed his intention to only contest the longer race over approximately 12km at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships in St Galmier, France, next March.
"Next year, I'm leaving the short race to my younger brother Tariku," said Bekele.
Tariku Bekele, 17, was the 2003 World Youth Championships 3,000m silver medalist but has already showed himself capable of holding his own in the senior ranks by winning a major race in Portugal last month.
Britain's Kathy Butler won the women's 6.5km race in 20:39, after dominating from gun to tape.
