Yomi Omogbeja (09/08/2005)

Kemboi settles for Silver

Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya took the world 3,000 metres steeplechase silver medal in 8:14.95, as Kenyan defector Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar retained his title won in 2003.

Qatari Saheen, formerly known as Stephen Cherono, produced a telling burst of speed at the bell to win in 8:13.31.

Kemboi had led the east African country to a clean sweep of the event at the Athens Olympics last year in the absence of Saheen.

The 22-year-old Saheen, who is also the world record-holder, was excluded from the Athens 2004 by the Kenyan federation who insisted he serve the full three years’ games suspension before being allowed to run for his adoptive country.

Kemboi was visibly contented with his medal given that Shaheen is unbeaten in the steeplechase since 2002.

He said: "Silver is a good medal for me today. Under these circumstances I am satisfied with my time (8:14.95), but it was a difficult race for me.

"The delay and the rain caused some problems, I had to warm-up several times. We (Kenyans) didn't have any planned tactic to beat Shaheen."

Kemboi's teammate and Athens Olympics silver medallist Brimin Kipruto settled for the bronze medal in 8:15.30, overtaking Morroccan Brahim Boulami with only metres to the finish.

Boulami was placed fourth in 8:15.32.

Mutola loses World 800m title

Mozambique's Maria de Lurdes Mutola has lost her world outdoor 800m title after finishing out of the medals bracket at the world athletics championships in Helsinki.

The reigning World indoor and outdoor champion was ran out on the home straight and despite a valiant effort to catch the third placed runner finished fourth (1:59.71), just as she did in Athens last summer.

Cuban Zulia Calatyud, 25, won the gold in 1:58.82, Morocco's Olympic silver medallist Hasna Benhassi came second in 1:59.42. and Russia's Tatyana Andrianova took the bronze in 1:59.60.

Mutola, 32, whose form has been hampered by injuries this season, set the early pace and led the field through 200m in 28.42 with Calatyud on her shoulder and Andrianova plus USA's Hazel Clark sitting just behind.

She had confessed after the semi-finals that the injuries could be her undoing and that was what happened, as she was swallowed by the Moroccan and the Russian

"I have had injuries during this season and they have made my training difficult. Therefore it was not easy," she said after qualifying as one of the two fastest losers in 1:59.29.

"If I get to the final, there is no guarantee that I can run better."

Benhassi adds another major Silver

Morroccan Hasna Benhassi has picked another silver medal to add to the one from Athens 2004 Olympics as she came second in the women's 800m in Helsinki with 1:59.42.

This time she finished behind Cuba's Zulia Calatyud just like she did behind British Dame Kelly Holmes last summer. Both times, however, beating former champion Maria Mutola.

Benhassi said: "I am quite happy and satisfied with the silver. I believed I had a chance for the gold but I made a mistake in my running.

"I stayed too far behind. When I tried to move up, there was a contact with the American and I was a bit disturbed. I started my sprint with 200m to go but that was too late for the gold.

"The rain was making the race difficult, but all in all it was a good run."

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