Bekele claims record sixth title

Bekele had to stop to put his shoe back on during the race

Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele was at his imperious best at a muddy Holyrood Park in Edinburgh as he won a record sixth men’s world cross-country title.

Bekele’s trainer came off during the 12km race but he still finished five seconds ahead of Leonard Patrick Komon, with Zersenay Tadese coming third.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba, 22, won her third world title after a superb final lap.

Compatriot Mestawet Tufa was second with Kenya’s Linet Masai third.

Britain’s Liz Yelling was the best placed European female in 14th, while her sister-in-law Hayley Yelling was 20th as Britain finished sixth in the team event.

Dibaba, who finished second to Lornah Kiplagat in Mombasa last year, was 0.02secs behind as she entered the final 400meters of the 8km course.

But she produced a great kick up the last hill and pulled clear of her rivals on the downhill run.

The victory helped Ethiopia to a seventh successive team victory to finish ahead of their arch-rivals Kenya, with Australia third.

“Last year as a team as individuals we did not do well, and disappointed the country but this is redemption,” said Dibaba, whose younger sister Genzebe won the junior women’s title earlier in the day.

“I thought I could catch up with the leading three. I saw there were Ethiopians and I knew I could do it.”