AP
Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele celebrates winning gold in the men's 5000-metre final.

BEIJING (AP):

KENENISA BEKELE made it a second Olympic long-distance double for Ethiopia in as many days yesterday, wearing down everyone who dared to keep pace in the 5,000 metres.

In 30 degree C (86 degree F) heat, cutting through the muggiest of conditions at the Bird's Nest, Bekele took over from his teammates with two kilometres to go and imposed such a punishing pace that he didn't need an explosive late finishing kick this time, just unmatched stamina.

His win by 30 metres over Eliud Kipchoge added to his 10,000 victory for the first double since 1980, when compatriot Miruts Yifter did it.

"This is very special for myself and also for my country. I did what I dreamed before," Bekele said.

And with Tirunesh Dibaba doing the same in the women's races, it was the first long-distance sweep for one nation.

Fast race

"My plan was to pick up the pace very fast," Bekele said. "It was a very fast race."

It was a bold move considering he was the only one of the top runners to already have a 10K in his legs.

It did not matter. With his double, it means he now has one more Olympic gold than Haile Gebrselassie, who is considered Africa's greatest runner ever.

It was also redemption for Bekele, who had missed out by just one metre for a similar double in Athens four years ago when he was beaten by Hicham El Guerrouj in the 5,000.

"At that time, maybe I'm so young myself and I made some mistakes," the 26-year-old Bekele said. "Now, I'm very strong and thinking more about the race."

This time his tactics were totally different. Dragging all others through in Olympic record pace, he finished in 12 minutes, 57.82 seconds, the first sub-13 minute Olympic race in history.

With Kipchoge and Edwin Cheryiyot Soi taking silver and bronze, it added to a great Olympics for Kenya.

World champion Bernard Lagat of the United States was flat again. Seeking to repeat the 1,500-5,000 double of last year's world championships, he failed twice, finishing only ninth to end a disappointing Olympics.

Bekele was a champion coming through when it counted. Blanka Vlasic was the best high jumper, unbeaten for almost two years, but proved suspect once again on the big occasion.

And again it was Tia Hellebaut of Belgium, who dominated her for the 2006 European title, that came through.

Always ready

"I am always there at the big championships," Hellebaut said. "I am always ready. I like the pressure."

Jumping on tendons that had been sore for most of the year, Hellebaut cleared 2.05 metres on her first attempt. Vlasic needed two.

It was a Belgian outdoor record for her, but more important, one that gave her gold.

"You just feel it is right and good," Hellebaut said. "The best jumps, you don't think. You just do them."

When the Croatian missed three times at 2.07, Hellebaut clinched one of the biggest upsets of the Olympic track event.

Anna Chicherova of Russia took bronze at 2.03m ahead of defending champion Elena Slesarenko.

Great Games for Kenya

Kenya extended their middle-distance domination with a golden double from Wilfred Bungei in the men's 800 and Nancy Jebet Langat in the women's 1,500.

Despite civil unrest and riots which killed hundreds and disrupted Kenya's preparations, the east African nation had a great Games which already yielded four golds and 13 medals overall.

It kept Kenya barely in front in the fight for African domination ahead of today's concluding marathon. Ethiopia also had four gold but trailed badly in the overall standings with six.

Kenya got their first boost from Bungei in the 800 yesterday.

Arms flailing wildly down the finishing straight, the 2006 world indoor champion completed a great front-running race to win, pushing his chest first across the line in 1:44.65, beating Ismail Ahmed Ismail of Sudan by .05 seconds.

African sweep

When world champion Alfred Yego of Kenya got the bronze, it made for the first African sweep in the event. It was another indication that Africa is spreading its running far beyond the traditional long-distance races.

And ever more across the gender barrier, with teenager Pamela Jelimo taking the women's 800.

"What you are seeing is a change in how our Kenyan women are being treated," said Bungei, saying they were finally allowed to chase their dreams on the track.

Soon afterward in a muggy Bird's Nest filled to its 91,000 capacity yet again, Langat won the 1,500 at the Beijing Olympics.

In a seesaw battle with world champion Maryam Jamal of Bahrain, Langat came out on top during a draining last lap.

Slowly, Langat pulled away to finish in 4:00.23 while Jamal slumped under the pressure and the heat. The pre-race champion was even overtaken by Ukrainian teammates Iryna Lyshchynska and Nataliya Tobias for silver and bronze.