Bekele defends title in 10,000 at athletics worlds
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-09 09:40

Ethiopia swept the women's 10,000.

On a good day for Africa, Docus Inzikuru of Uganda won the inaugural women's steeplechase ahead of Yekaterina Volkova of Russia and Jeruto Kiptum of Kenya.

France's Christine Arron, seeking to put years of failure behind her and finally become the world's fastest woman, was the fastest qualifier Monday in the 100 meter semifinals.

In the second semifinal, Lauryn Williams of the United States beat the season's top performer, Chandra Sturrup, to set up the clash for gold in the final later Monday.

Arron, a 31-year-old mother, has many critics who accuse her of choking on the big occasion, but in her semifinal heat she recovered from a horrendous start to blaze across the line in 10.96 seconds ahead of Veronica Campbell of Jamaica.

"It was not bad. I had to fight back after the bad start," Arron said.

In damp and cold conditions at the 40,000-capacity stadium, Olympic silver medalist Williams finished her semifinal in 11.03, edging Sturrup and Olympic champion Yuliya Nesterenko of Belarus. Me'Lisa Barber and Muna Lee of the United States also went through to the final.

Zhanna Block, the 2001 champion from Ukraine, failed to make it, finishing fifth behind Williams.

Defending champion Ivan Tikhon was one attempt away from elimination, but replied with a championship record of 83.89 meters to win the hammer throw. Fellow Belorussian Vadim Devyatovskiy was second.

Late Sunday, Justin Gatlin became the fastest man and promised he had plenty "left in the tank" for his quest to become the most dominating athlete at the nine-day event. No one will doubt it after Sunday's exhibition of stunning acceleration once his giant stride ripped the field apart.

"He reminds me of how Maurice did that," U.S. coach John Smith said. "He showed he deserves to be the Olympic champion, now he's the world champion and he's started to come into his own."

He finished in 9.88 seconds and beat silver medalist Michael Frater of Jamaica by 17-hundredths of a second. Defending champion Kim Collins was third, also in 10.05.

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