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Women's results (4.2km)
1. Edith Masai, Kenya, 13:30.
2. Werknesh Kidane, Ethiopia, 13:36.
3. Isabella Ochichi, Kenya, 13:39.
4. Benita Johnson, Australia, 13:42.
5. Suzy Favor-Hamilton, United States, 13:47.
6. Abebech Negussie, Ethiopia, 13:53.
7. Sonia O'Sullivan, Ireland, 13:55.
8. Amina Godana, Ethiopia, 14:00.
9. Rosanna Martin, Italy, 14:01.
10. Anne Keenan-Buckley, Ireland, 14:03.
Teams:
1. Ethiopia, 32 points.
2. Kenya, 34.
3. Ireland, 85.
4. Russia, 86.
5. Australia, 86.
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24 March 2002 – Dublin, Ireland - Kenya’s Edith
Masai enjoyed the biggest pay-day of her brief running career
on Sunday, when she collected $34,000 prize money after winning
the women’s short-course race at the iaaf/sport Ireland
World Cross-country Championships here on Sunday.
Masai, a 34-year-old prison warder and mother, out-kicked
Ethiopia’s Werknesh Kidane to finish the 4km event in
13min 30sec, six seconds clear of her rival.
The bronze medal went to early leader Isabella Ochichi, of
Kenya (13:39).
Masai, the bronze medallist in Ostend a year ago, only took
up running in 1999 to help support her small son after she
had split from her husband.
But the biggest cheer of the weekend was reserved for another
mother among the race’s front-runners.
Local heroine O’Sullivan, the double champion from 1998,
finished in 13:55. The race came just 13 weeks after she had
given birth to her second daughter.
O’Sullivan’s brave effort, and that of her team
mate Anne Keenan-Buckley, who finished 10th after being roared
on by the estimated 7,000 spectators packed in the grandstands
of the racecourse, saw Ireland get team bronze medals This
after a closely fought contest with the Russian team. Ireland
winning by a one point margin, 85 to 86 points [The finishing
positions of your country's athletes count as points, the
country with the least points wins the medals in the team
event]
Ethiopia took team gold and Kenya silver.
“I knew everybody in the crowd wanted Sonia to win,”
Masai said, “but this championship has come too soon
for her.
“If the championships were held one month later, I know
Sonia would have got a medal, maybe even gold,” said
Masai.
“The atmosphere was electric and one of the most enjoyable
races of my life. I am delighted to improve on my bronze of
last year.”
Kidane, too, enjoyed her Dublin experience. “Everytime
I ran in front of the stand I got goose bumps because the
noise was so loud,” said the silver medallist. “It
inspired me to run faster.”
Australian Benita Johnson put up a brave performance in finishing
4th closely followed by track, 1500m specialist, Suzy Favor-Hamilton
of the USA in 5th.
The performance of Keenan-Buckley of Ireland is also worth
mentioning. Her 10th place at the age of 40 is outstanding
and it is maybe her performance that secured Ireland the Bronze
in the team event.
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