Ethiopian Gezahegne Abera added the world marathon title to his Olympic gold medal yesterday by out-sprinting Kenya's Simon Biwott in a thrilling finish to the opening day of the eighth world championships. The result was in doubt until the final metres of the 42.195 kms road race before Abera summoned the last of his resources and edged ahead of the Berlin champion to win in two hours 12 minutes 42 seconds. He is the only man to have won both major global titles.
Biwott took the silver medal just one second behind, while Italy's European champion Stefano Baldini was well back in third place in 2:13:18. Trinidad's Ronnie Holassie was the early pacemaker as the field strode through the streets of the Canadian prairie town before he was gathered in by the pack shortly before the race was an hour old.
Filed by Neill Reilly
