Yomi Omogbeja(23/01/2005)

Ethiopia’s Tariku Bekele has led other African young stars to victory at the 2005 Elgoibar international cross country in Spain.

Tariku, younger brother of World 5,000m and 10,000m record holder Kenenisa Bekele, beat fellow Ethiopians Maregu Terefe Zewdie, Worku Bado, Abebe Dinkesa, Tanzania’s Fabiano Joseph and Kenya’s Eliud Kirui in a sprint finish.

The 18-year-old, world youth 3000m silver medallist in 2003, crossed the finish line in a time of 32:02 just a second earlier than 22-year-old Zewdie, with Fabiano Joseph ten seconds behind the duo.

"Fabiano’s pace was very strong but fortunately I managed to live with it and win in the final stages," Bekele said.

The three athletes are set to compete again at the World Cross Country championships in St-Etienne/St-Galmier in March.

Kenya's 21-year-old Alice Timbilil won the women's race with tremendous ease in 22:20, ahead of Hungarian 2003 European Cross Country bronze medallist’s Aniko Kalovics ( 22:30).