Haile Gebrselassie was racing for the first time since an operation on his Achilles tendon in November 2000. The pace was moderate and noone had been dropped as the large pack reached halfway in 14:15.11. The lead changed frequently but the four Ethiopians and three Kenyans were always prominent with Gebrselassie usually in second spot. With two laps to go, there was a pack of nine in front, the seven East Africans and two Spaniards. Kosgei led at the bell, then Gebrselassie got to the pole position with 200m remaining. Everyone was expecting the Ethiopian to accelerate and collect a fifth title, but it was Kamathi who had easily the best finishing speed. He strode past Gebrselassie and smoothly sprinted away. A stunned Mezegebu also overtook Gebrselassie, who suffered his first defeat at 10,000m since 1993. Later it was revealed that the former champion had spent the previous three nights in a clinic suffering from flu. After watching Kamathi’s win, a dentist in Edmonton offered to replace for free the Kenyan’s front tooth which had been missing since 1997. |
Records
Standing records prior to the 2001 World Athletics Championships |
World Record |
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) |
26:22.75 |
June 1, 1998 |
Hengelo, Netherlands |
Event Record |
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) |
27:12.95 |
August 8, 1995 |
Gothenburg, Sweden |
Season Best |
Abraham Chebii (KEN) |
27:04.20 |
May 4, 2001 |
Palo Alto, United States |
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10,000m |
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8 August |
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Men's 10,000m final-10 000 m h. finale |
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In an upset that upstaged Marion JONES's defeat in the 100m two days ago, Kenya's Charles KAMATHI tonight ended the 38-race winning streak of Ethiopia's Haile GEBRSELASSIE, beating the world record holder and Olympic champion in a sprint finish over the last 150 metres of a pulsating 10,000m final. Amazingly, GEBRSELASSIE also lost second place, to his compatriot Assefa MEZGEBU, who claimed his first silver medal after having taken bronze in the world and Olympic finals.
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KAMATHI ran the last 200m in 24.7 seconds, coming from fourth to first, to end a 37-race winning streak over all distances by the Ethiopian who's widely regarded as the greatest distance runner of all time. KAMATHI, who finished in 27:53.25, also denied GEBRSELASSIE his fifth straight world 10,000m title and handed hium his first defeat at the distance since 1993.
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Predictably, the race started slowly, with Kenyans and Ethiopians always prominent at the head of the large group of 28 runners. After the first kilometre (passed in 2:50.25) Aloys NIZIGAMA of Burundi briefly picked up the pace and opened up a 10 metre lead, only to have it closed rapidly by Kenya's John Cheruiyot KORIR. GEBRSELASSIE, MEZGEBU and KAMATHI were all tucked in behind the leaders, watching every move and biding their time.
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In the fourth kilometre KAMATHI and KORIR eached injected a spurt of pace, stringing the field out for 200 to 300 metres before it all slowed again. GEBRSELASSIE was covering every move but said later that the frequent changes of pace was taking its toll on his vulnerable Achilles tendon.
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Shortly after the half way mark, passed in 14:15.11, another Kenyan, Paul KOSGEI, had his go at turning up the tempo. MEZGEBU, KAMATHI and GEBRSELASSIE followed him for a lap, before KAMATHI took over. One kilometre later, the Spaniard Fabian RONCERO joined in, spurting to the front for a lap of pace, before it all slowed again.
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The pace was quickening with each kilometre, though, and when they reached eight kilometres, in 2:45.21, there were only 10 runners in contention. Ten became eight with only three laps left - three Ethiopians, three Kenyans and two Spaniards - but no-one was prepared to make the decisive move.
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KAMATHI was running wide at the front, inviting GEBRSELASSIE to come inside him and strike for home. With 600m to go these two were running stride for stride, but it was KOSGEI who struck 100m later. He led at the bell, but with 300m to go MEZGEBU came past on his outside, with GEBRSELASSIE on the inside. The other Ethiopian, Yibeltal ADMASSU, was in third behind them 200m out with KAMATHI taking KOSGEI's place in fourth.
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GEBRSELASSIE was now sprinting for home but it wasn't the devastating finish we have known for so long. KAMATHI struck at 150m out, taking MEZGEBU with him past the world record holder and went clear as he burst down the straight. MEZGEBU clocked 27:53.97 in second, and GEBRSELASSIE recorded 27:54.91.
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KAMATHI put his head in hands at the finish in disbelief at what he had achieved. He ran the fifth fastest 10,000m of all time two years ago. But tonight's race wasn't about time, it was about an historical victory . . . and defeat. |
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Final |
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1 |
Charles Kamathi |
KEN |
18 May 78 |
27.53.25 |
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2 |
Assefa Mezegebu |
ETH |
19 Jun 78 |
27.53.97 |
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3 |
Haile Gebrselassie |
ETH |
18 Apr 73 |
27.54.41 |
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4 |
Yibeltal Admassu |
ETH |
5 Mar 80 |
27.55.24 |
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5 |
Fabián Roncero |
ESP |
19 Oct 70 |
27.56.07 |
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6 |
José Rios |
ESP |
15 Mar 74 |
27.56.58 |
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7 |
Paul Kosgei |
KEN |
22 Apr 78 |
27.57.56 |
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8 |
John Cheruiyot Korir |
KEN |
13 Dec 81 |
27.58.06 |
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9 |
Habte Jifar |
ETH |
29 Jan 76 |
28.02.71 |
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10 |
Kamiel Maase |
NED |
20 Oct 71 |
28.05.41 |
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11 |
Jaouad Gharib |
MAR |
22 May 72 |
28.05.45 |
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12 |
José Manuel Martínez |
ESP |
22 Oct 71 |
28.06.33 |
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13 |
Jeff Schiebler |
CAN |
1 Jun 73 |
28.07.06 |
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14 |
Marco Mazza |
ITA |
25 Jun 77 |
28.08.00 |
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15 |
Toshinari Takaoka |
JPN |
24 Sep 70 |
28.13.99 |
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16 |
Abderrahim Goumri |
MAR |
21 May 76 |
28.14.06 |
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17 |
Teodoro Vega |
MEX |
14 Jul 76 |
28.14.77 |
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18 |
Alan Culpepper |
USA |
15 Sep 72 |
28.18.44 |
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19 |
Abdi Abdirahman |
USA |
1 Jan 77 |
28.34.38 |
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20 |
João N'Tyamba |
ANG |
20 Mar 68 |
28.38.31 |
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21 |
Saïd Bérioui |
MAR |
3 Jun 75 |
28.38.80 |
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22 |
Naoki Mishiro |
JPN |
16 Mar 77 |
28.42.68 |
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23 |
Meb Keflezighi |
USA |
5 May 75 |
28.44.48 |
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24 |
Kamel Kohil |
ALG |
26 Dec 71 |
28.52.47 |
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25 |
John Henwood |
NZL |
30 Aug 72 |
29.01.62 |
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José Ramos |
POR |
27 Jul 68 |
DNF |
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Aloÿs Nizigama |
BDI |
18 Jun 66 |
DNF |
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Mohammed Mourhit |
BEL |
10 Oct 70 |
DNF |
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