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WORLD SPORT

Bekele completes a record double

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Bekele strides clear to complete his historic double triumph.

FUKUOKA, Japan -- Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele completed a historic double by storming to the men's 12-kilometer title at the world cross country championships in Fukuoka on Sunday and then declared that he would not be back.

The 23-year-old, twice IAAF athlete of the year, became the first man to win both the 4km and 12km titles five years in a row.

He triumphed over the shorter distance on Saturday.

Bekele, the Olympic and world 10,000 meters champion, broke away from his closest rivals with a powerful finish, crossing the line in 35 minutes 40 seconds at the seaside course.

He then declared he would probably not run at another world cross country championships.

"I cannot achieve anything new," Bekele told reporters.

"I'm leaning towards not competing at the world cross country anymore."

Fellow Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine took silver in 35:43, partly making up for his disappointment in the 4km race, where he took a nasty spill and had to settle for 12th.

Kenya's Martin Irungu Mathathi was third in 35:44.

Bekele, who has set world records in the 5,000m and 10,000m in the last two years, took his tally of track, indoor and cross country titles to 18.

"I want to step aside and make way for my young Ethiopian team mates," said Bekele, who claimed his first indoor world title by winning the 3,000m in Moscow last month.

"I do not want anyone to think that I will not run again next year because the event is being staged in Kenya."

Long course

The Ethiopian's win in the long course race also matched the achievement of Kenya's Paul Tergat, who won the 12km title at the world cross country championships five years running from 1995.

Tergat never won the short race, which will be dropped at next year's world championships in Mombasa for both the men and women, after being introduced in 1998.

Last year's junior champion Gelete Burika Bati of Ethiopia won the women's 4km title in a time of 12:51.

Kenya's Priscah Jepleting Ngetich was second in 12:53 and Ethiopia's Meselech Melkamu third in 12:54.

Pre-race favorite Tirunesh Dibaba failed to finish after winning Saturday's 8km race. The Ethiopian was aiming to become the first woman to win both races in consecutive years.

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