Sport: Africans dominate world cross country championships in Belfast

Ben Limo out-sprinted fellow-Kenyan Paul Kosgei today to win the world men's cross country short course race over 4.2 kms in 12:28. As the field began to spread, the race turned into a duel between Limo, fourth in Marrakech last year, and Kosgei, the world junior steeplechase record holder. Ethiopians Hailu Mekonnen and Million Wolde threatened briefly before the two leading Kenyans surged away over the final kilometre. Kosgei was second in 12:31 with Mekonnen third, four seconds further back. Wolde finished fourth, just one second behind his team mate.

Ethiopian Gete Wami raced to her second world cross country title today with an untroubled victory in the women's long course race in Belfast. Wami, winner of the 1996 event in Cape Town, South Africa, strode away from a tightly bunched field on the third lap of the four-lap eight kilometre course. Floating effortlessly across the muddy terrain, Wami, the Olympic 10,000 metres bronze medallist, won in exactly 28 minutes. Her team mate Merima Denboba timed her finishing kick to perfection to take second place in 28:12, just ahead of Britain's Paula Radcliffe. She was given the same time as Denboha.

About a thousand athletes from over 70 countries are competing in the world cross country championships in Belfast. It is the most important sporting event to be staged in Northern Ireland in many years. Most of the world's top cross country runners are in action this week-end, although hopes of a repeat of last years great Irish success in this event, are not high. Ireland's best medal prospects, reigning champion Sonia O'Sullivan, and Catriona McKiernan, are both unavoidably absent. Belfast was awarded this event back in 1995, after the first IRA ceasefire in what was seen as a gesture of support for the then fledgling peace process.