Africans control medal table

ATHLETICS:IF IT sounds strange to finish 68th in a championship race and still consider that a decent run well that's the reality of Mark Kenneally's performance at Saturday's World Cross-Country in Amman, Jordan.

The event has effectively become an African championship, such is their dominance. Of the 24 medals at stake, Africa won 22. Only Portugal and Japan, who won team bronze in the senior and junior women respectively, broke that dominance.

The men’s title was won by 24-year-old Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia in 35:02, who narrowly out-sprinted Moses Kipsiro, Uganda, with Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea taking the bronze.

Linet Masai of Kenya looked to have women’s gold wrapped up until her team mate, Florence Kiplagat, burst past on the final uphill stretch.

For Kenneally, 68th place left the Dubliner the 10th best European from the 153-runner field. Linda Byrne was the only other Irish representative in the senior women’s race and a 65th place was about as good as expected.

Elsewhere, Jamie Costin produced a fine performance at the European Race Walking meeting in Dudince, southern Slovakia, improving the 50km Irish record to 3.50.52. Both Costin and Colin Griffin qualified for this summer’s World Championships in Berlin.