By John Acher
OSLO, June 27 Reuters - World half-marathon championBerhane Adere ran the second fastest women’s 5,000metres ever today to lead an Ethiopian clean sweep atthe Bislett Games Golden League meeting.
Adere, the world indoor 3,000 metres record holder,clocked 14 minutes 29.32 seconds in the first of theseason’s six Golden League meetings with a blisteringsprint finish that left her just a second off the worldrecord set by China’s Bo Jiang in 1997.
Werknesh Kidane was second in 14:33.04 and TiruneshDiababa third in 14:39.94, a world junior record in arace in which six Ethiopians finished in the top 10.Eight of the 17 finishers set personal bests.
Adere said she had aimed only to win the race andrealised that she was on world record pace at about3,000 metres.
When I heard someone say 'world record', I tried topush,'' she said. A fantastic race. I thought it was possible to breakthe world record…sorry I was slow today.’’
She added that she would make another attempt on therecord in August.
Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia’s potential heir to world5,000 and 10,000 metres record holder Haile Gebrselassie, won themen’s 5,000 metres in a personal best of 12:52.26.
I am in my best shape ever,'' Bekele said. Lastseason I was injured and started training lastNovember.’’
Sammy Kipketer was second in 12:52.33 andfellow-Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge third in a world juniorrecord of 12:52.61.
In the men’s 100 metres, former world junior championMark Lewis-Francis of Britain upstaged compatriot andEuropean champion Dwain Chambers to win in a time of10.12.
Australia’s Matt Shirvington was third in 10.25.
I think it's going to be a great season for Britishathletics,'' Lewis-Francis said, adding his goal was towin a medal at the world championships in Paris inAugust. It’s too early to say what colour.’’
Lewis-Francis turned down a chance of a place at theSydney Olympics to concentrate on the 2000 world juniorchampionships where he won two golds.
In the women’s 100 metres, Chandra Sturrup of theBahamas beat US champion Kelli White in a photo finish.
Sturrup, the former Commonwealth Games champion,clocked 10.96 seconds, 0.01 ahead of White, who won the100-200 double at the US championships this month.
Australia’s Commonwealth champion Jana Pittman won the400 metres hurdles, holding off a late challenge fromcurrent world number one Ionela Tirlea of Romania.
In the women’s triple jump, Cuba’s Yamile Aldamarecorded the longest leap for two years with a personalbest of 15.11 metres.
The meeting was the last to be staged in the BislettStadium.
The stadium will be demolished and next year’s eventwill be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, while a new one iserected.
Former world record breakers in the stadium, includingBritain’s Sebastian Coe and Norway’s Ingrid Kristiansen,paraded in cars around the stadium before the start.