Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia retained women's pole vault title
but failed to break her own world record in a day when her country
and Kenya grabbed two gold medals apiece at the world championships
in Osaka on Tuesday.
Isinbayeva took the title in 4.80 meters, followed by Katerina
Badurova of Czech Republic and Russian Svetlana Feofanova, both in
4.75.
The 25-year-old, who set a new world record of 5.01 meters in
winning the title at the 2005 worlds, tried twice at 5.02 meters
but failed on both attempts.
"I win and that is the most important," said Isinbayeva. "The
only small disappointment was that I did not jump the world record.
I still have six competitions left and I hope I can break the
record."
The day's another highlight was the Kenyan runners, who
cleanswept the men's 3,000m steeplechase medals and ran away with
the women's 800m gold.
Olympic silver medalist Brimin Kipruto led a Kenyan 1-2-3
finish, clocking eight minutes 13.82 seconds, followed by Olympic
champion Ezekiel Kemboi and Richard Mateelong.
"We had a plan as a team to run together until the final 400
meters. I am so happy. It's the first time I won a gold medal. We
will celebrate as a team, as a country," said Kipruto.
Janeth Jepkosgei won a second gold medal for Kenya in the
women's 800m, clocking 1:56.04 ahead of Morocco's Olympic silver
medalist Hasna Benhassi and Spain's Mayte Martinez.
Three-time former world champion and Olympic gold winner Maria
Mutola of Mozambique, 34, suffered an injury as she rounded the
last bend in the third place.
"It's the first gold medal for Kenya in the 800m and the first
world championship gold for me, and it's also my personal best, so
I'm happy."
Tatyana Lebedeva won Russia's another gold in the women's long
jump with a leap of 7.03 meters.
Estonian Gerd Kanter upset Virgilijus Alekna to win the men's
discus with a heave of 68.94 meters. The day's sixth and last gold
medal was won by American Kerron Clement in the men's 400m
hurdles.
American Tyson Gay, who won the men's 100m on Sunday, reached
the 200m semifinals by leading all the four heats in 20.08
seconds.
Gay ran the second fastest 200m ever earlier this season and he
is sure to be the favorite for a second gold.
Clement beat veteran Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic a
third world title in the 400m hurdles.
He won in 47.61 seconds, followed by Sanchez in 48.01 and
Poland's Marek Plawgo in 48.12.
After four days' competition, Kenya overtook the United States
in the medal standings with three gold and seven overall. The US
team has two gold and seven overall.
Ethiopia, which also has two golds, suffered a blow after
10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba had withdrew from the 5,000m.
(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2007)