http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=trackandfield&id=2018861
Reuters Internet Delivery System By Sabrina Yohannes NEW YORK, March 22 - Four Ethiopian athletes gathered seven medals between them at the world cross country championships because of the team's willingness to run both long and short course races. "We have athletes who can double successfully and are willing," said head coach Tolossa Kotu. "Without that it would been hard to obtain this many golds." Ethiopia won a record five out of six titles at the weekend at the converted horse racing course near St Etienne in France Kenenisa Bekele, in mourning after the sudden death of his fiancee last January, completed the men's double for the fourth time and Tirunesh Dibaba won both women's races. "Tirunesh's double was expected because she was confident and had prepared for it but, in light of the fact that Kenenisa had been in mourning, his achievement is remarkable," said another team coach Hussein Shibo. Ethiopia's ambassador to France Sahlework Zewde paid tribute to the team at a reception on Sunday night organised by Mama Ethiopia, an association that aids orphans in the impoverished African nation. "There are many in France who are only aware of the image Ethiopia has been identified with in the past, that of famine and war," she said. "To have our flag raised and our anthem played in a place Ethiopia is seldom heard about plays a big part in improving that image." Zewde said she was also moved and impressed by 22-year-old Bekele's triumph in the face of personal tragedy. "He has endured a trying ordeal at a young age," she said. "I believe he will draw strength from it." ENDS
