Yomi Omogbeja (01/10/2005)

Tanzania's Fabiano Joseph Naasi has won the 14th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

The 19-year-old, runners up in the two previous championships, sneaked behind Qatar's Mubarak Hassan Shami to claim the gold medal and the 30,000 USD first prize on the finish line with a time of 1:01:08.

However, it was a disastrous miscalculation by the Qatari runner who on approaching the finishing line, raised his arms in victory and slowed to cross the line, only to watch in dismay as Joseph slipped past him.

Shami finished in 1:01:09 but came away with a new national record and a 15,000 USD prize money.

Eritrean Yonas Kifle took the bronze medal with 1:01:13 ahead of the pre-race favourite, the Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Sileshi Sihine of Ethiopia, timed at 1:01:14.

Joseph said: "I am very happy with this race because the Ethiopian and Qatari were very tough.

"I was very prepared for this race. I am happy to win it."

"This time I was prepared I really trained for this. In 2003 and 2002, I was second so I really wanted to win this time."

Ethiopia won the team gold medal, their top three runners scoring a cumulative time of 3:06:18.

The silver medal went to Eritrea and Japan took the bronze medal.

Click below for full Championships Results: