Global Sport

Chebet clocks rare doubleNEW YORK: Kenyan Joseph Chebet, runner-up the past two years, finally won the New York city marathon to complete...

Chebet clocks rare double
NEW YORK: Kenyan Joseph Chebet, runner-up the past two years, finally won the New York city marathon to complete a rare Boston-New York marathon double. “I knew that I was supposed to win New York one day,” an emotional Chebet, 29, said after clocking 2:09:14 the fourth fastest New York city marathon.

Chebet had played second fiddle to compatriot John Kagwein 1997 and 1998. But with his victory he joined Americans Bill Rodgers and Alberto Salazar as only the third man to win both Boston and New York in the same year. It was the fifth time a Kenyan had won in the 30 years of New York city marathons.Chebet leading the bunch, took charge after the 24-mile mark. Domingos Castro, 35, of Portugal, finished second in 2:09:20, with Kenyan Shem Kororia, 27, third in 2:09:32.

Adriana Fernandez became the first Mexican woman to win in New York, taking control at 15 miles and winning in 2:25:06.

Fernandez, runner-up to Italy’s Franca Fiacconi last year, cut a lonely figure as she breezed away from the rest of the women and was never challenged. Kenyan Catherine Ndereba, 27, was second in 2:27:34 with German Katrin Dorre-heinig, 30, third in 2:28:41.

Oldest Olympic champion dies at 100
LJUBLJANA: The world’s oldest Olympic champion, Slovenian gymnast Leon Stukelj, died today, only four days before turning 101. “Sadly, I have to confirm that Leon Stukelj died in Maribor Hospital at 0300 (0200 GMT) due to a heart failure,” Tomaz Zajc, Stukelj’s friend and secretary, told Reuters. Stukelj won six Olympic medals. He won his first Olympic gold 75 years ago.

Schumacher denies rift with Irvine
VALLELUNGA (Italy): Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher today insisted that he had done everything to help Eddie Irvine become world champion, and denied being happy that the Ulsterman’s attempt had failed. Schumacher, here for a Ferrari sports car extravaganza, was keen to correct reported comments that he hadn’t been disappointed by Irvine’s failure to lift the drivers’ title at last week’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Another controversy facing Schumacher was his appearance at McLaren’s party celebrations at Suzuka, which shocked many Ferrari fans, but which the German insisted was him just being sporting.