Olympics: Bekele defends men's 10,000m title

Monday 18 August 2008

BEIJING - Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia defended his 10,000m title medal at the Olympics on Sunday, producing a devastating burst of speed on the last lap to see off any pretenders.

Bekele finished in a new Olympic record of 27min 01.17sec, with compatriot Sileshi Sihine claiming silver - as he did at the Athens Games in 2004 - in 27:02.77.

Kenyan Micah Kogo ensured there was no Ethiopian clean sweep, taking bronze in 27:04.11.

Bekele's team-mate Haile Gebreselassie, Olympic 10,000m champion in 1996 and 2000, came in sixth.