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Lead Stories: Friday, January 9, 2009

Tirunesh Dibaba will not defend world 5000m title

Posted August 28th, 2007 at 8:12 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

tirunesh dibaba brussels belgium Tirunesh Dibaba, who won both the 5000m and 10,000m titles at the last IAAF World Championshpis in Athletics in Helsinki, has decided that she won’t defend her 5000m title after winning last Saturday night’s 10,000m gold medal at Nagai Stadium here.

In a statement sent by the media by the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, Dibaba said she was simply not recovered enough from her 25 lap race. “I waited to see myself in training,” the statement read. “But after consultations with my coaches and reexamined my health, I have decided not to contest the race.”

This is a blow to fans who were looking forward to the clash between Dibaba and Meseret Defar, the only woman capable of beating her in next Saturday’s final. Defar, the 5000m Olympic champion in 2004, finished second at the last world championships behind Dibaba and is now the overwhelming favorite to win the gold.
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EAF hopeful on Bekele’s participation at World Cross

Posted February 28th, 2007 at 12:45 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Cross Country

The Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) is hopeful that five-time double world cross country champion Kenenisa Bekele will overturn his “retirement” decision and compete in the 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombassa, Kenya, on March 24.

After winning the fifth and last world cross double in last year’s edition in Fukuoka, Japan, Bekele had flatly stated more than once that he would not return to the annual championships.

But EAF Technical Director Dube Jillo says he is hopeful that the 24-year old will overturn his decision and compete in Mombassa.