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From: B-Haile (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Mon Mar 14 2011 - 16:08:18 EST
'We take the same and start again. The World Cross Country scheduled on Sunday, March 20 in Punta Umbria (Spain) will certainly resemble those of the last fifteen seasons, that is a game for two, Kenya, Ethiopia, or even three if Eritrea is at the rendez-vous.'
Star Africa
World cross country 2011: Africa untouchable
We take the same and start again. The World Cross Country scheduled on Sunday, March 20 in Punta Umbria (Spain) will certainly resemble those of the last fifteen seasons, that is a game for two, Kenya, Ethiopia, or even three if Eritrea is at the rendez-vous.
By: Fayçal CHEHAT
14/03/11 12:20 GMT
We take the same and start again. The World Cross Country scheduled on Sunday, March 20 in Punta Umbria (Spain) will certainly resemble those of the last fifteen seasons, that is a game for two, Kenya, Ethiopia, or even three if Eritrea is at the rendez-vous.
Behind, there are but kind of outsiders. Just good at picking up the crumbs left by the big boys of East Africa and simply contenting with honor seats. This will undoubtedly be the case for the selection of Morocco, spearhead in the 80s and early 90s (Khalid Skah period), but today well behind the Kenyan and Ethiopian powerful locomotives. There is of course the progress of countries like Uganda and Tanzania, but it remains rather limited to hope disturbing the peace of the bigs of cross country. Out of Africa no salvation? We can say so. It's been a long time that Europe is back in the ranks. The latest victory achieved by a champion from the Old Continent was in 2000 and 2001 And yet, Mohamed Mourhit, world champion, was a Moroccan naturalized Belgian. Otherwise, we must go back much earlier in time to find the trace of a successful Western, ie the double win of the Portuguese Carlos Lopes in 1984 and 1998.
Europe and America have almost deserted a discipline on which they reigned as undisputed masters on early 20th century until the early 70s. The mud and the steep slopes of the cross channels were those of French, Belgians, English. The dominance of the latter was sometimes disrupted by the outbreak of champions from the former colonies - Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia but essentially it was never challenged. The loss of influence on the sport has led since early 2000s Europeans to lose interest in it against their will. Claiming the reduced subsidies of sponsorship, the International Federation of Athletics (IAAF) has decided to organize the World Cup only every two years. A real blow to Africans who are reproached indirectly of crushing the competition. Some athletes are already being forgotten to the image of the Ethiopian Icon Kenenisa Bekele (1). If the decision is finally ratified, even Africans might be tempted to divert from an exacting sport that does not fulfill its role anymore.
For African runners, the cross season, in addition to being profitable, is an excellent preparation for track events. The fact of closing it with a world-class competition offered many athletes the opportunity to glean a significant international title. The immense fame of stars has often taken momentum at the heart of winter. Kenyan Paul Tergat (5 wins) and the Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele (6 titles, including 5 consecutive) marked indelibly by winning all the track events. For the appointment of Sunday in Spain individual titles should be played between John Mwangangi Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) Gebre Gebremariam (Ethiopia), Moses Kipsirio (Uganda), Unegnaw Mesfin, Linet Masai, Vivian Cheruiyot, Priscah Cherono, Meselech Melkamu, Genzebe Dibaba (Ethiopia), Teklemariam Medhin (Eritrea). Note the absence of defending champion Ebuyer Joseph and Emily Chebet, unable to earn their place at the selection trials played February 18 in Nairobi.
The defending champions (2010)
Men: Singles: Joseph Ebuyer (Ken). Teams: Kenya.
Women: Singles: Emily Chebet (Ken). Teams: Kenya
apportionment of victories since 1980
Gentlemen: 1. Kenya, 13; 2. Ethiopia, 9, 3. Morocco, 2, 4. Belgium 2, Portugal, 2, USA, 2. 6. Eritrea 1.
Ladies: 1. Ethiopia, 9; 2.Norvège, 4, 3. England, 4, 4. Kenya, 3: 5. USA, 3; 6. Romania, Holland, France, 2, 9. Portugal, Ireland, Australia, 1.
(1) Kenenisa Bekele had said in March 2010 to Runinlive magazine: "The World Cross Championships held every two years is not fair for athletes. If they want it to be held every two years, they should change the rules, otherwise the interest in the cross will fall. They say they have no sponsors for the cross. But it's not just Europe and Asia. In Africa too, there are many who are willing to fund and invest. Of course Europe pays and Africa wins. That's what displeases them. This money has nothing to do with other sports like soccer. I think that athletics may well decline. "
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