Host Ethiopia made a storming start to the African athletics championships when Gebregziabher Gebremariam led a clean sweep in the men's 10,000 meters on a rain-drenched National stadium track on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old Gebremariam took advantage of the absence of reigning world and Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele to take a commanding lead from the start. He finished in a time of 28:17.11 ahead of compatriots Ebrahim Jeylan and Eshetu Wondemu. Three Kenyans took the fourth, fifth and sixth positions. The Ethiopian victory came after Bekele refused to compete in the race due to a misunderstanding with his athletics federation. He had been expected to compete in his first race on home soil in four years. “I will not run it,” Bekele told The Associated Press. “I can't answer for you by telephone. It's very difficult.” Bekele's withdrawal is not expected to affect his chances of running at this year's Beijing Olympics. Haile Gebrselassie, the former world record holder and two-time Olympic champion in the 10,000, was not named to Ethiopia's team for the event. But Gebrselassie is still hoping to run the 10,000 in Beijing after pulling out of the Olympic marathon.
