The Hindu : Sport : Anju fails to get going, ends sixth

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Saturday, Mar 25, 2006

Sport

Sport

Anju fails to get going, ends sixth

Jepkosgei dashes Mutola's hat-trick hopes

— Photo: AP

HOPES BURIED: Anju Bobby George finished on a disappointing note in the long jump event.

Melbourne: Anju Bobby George's hopes of a second successive medal in the Commonwealth Games were dashed, as the lanky Indian finished a poor sixth in long jump here on Friday.

The 29-year-old cleared 6.54m in her third attempt to come sixth in a field of 12 jumpers. She had won the bronze in Manchester 2002.

Australian Bronwyn Thompson took the gold with a new Games record of 6.97, erasing the 6.78 set by countrymate Shonel Ferguson in 1982. Another Australian, Kerrie Taurima, claimed the silver in 6.57, while Seychelles's Celina Laporte won the bronze.

Anju never got going and the frustration showed as each round passed. She kept chiding herself after each jump and even fouled the fifth. Her sequence in the final read 6.39m, 6.49, 6.54m, 6.35m and 6.53m with one foul jump.

Jepkosgei beats Mutola

Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei produced a spirited late sprint to take the gold in the women's 800m, ending Maria Mutola's dreams of a third straight title.

Jamaican Kenia Sinclair pushed Mutola hard for most part of the race and they ran at the head of the field before Jepkosgei timed her run to perfection, starting her sprint about 70m from home.

She finished in 1m 57.88s, 0.06 outside her previous best. Sinclair was second in 1:58.16 while Sydney 2000 Olympics and seven-time World indoor champion Mutola took the bronze in 1:58.77.

Brigitte Foster-Hylton scampered to the women's 100m hurdles title as the Jamaicans continued to make merry. Foster-Hylton clocked 12.76s to win the gold, ahead of Angela Whyte of Canada (12.94) and Jamaica's Delloreen Ennis-London (13.00).

Ochichi wins 5,000m

In the women's 5,000m, Kenya's Isabella Ochichi won a thrilling final. A silver medallist in the Athens Olympics, Ochichi fended off a last lap challenge from England's Jo Pavey to win her first major title in a time of 14m 57.84s.

World record holder Asafa Powell powered Jamaica to the final of the 4x100m relay. Powell, accompanied by Michael Frater, Ainsley Waugh and Winston Smith, clocked the fastest time of 38.52s in the heats followed by Australia with 38.57s.

Ezekiel Kemboi Yano led a Kenyan sweep of the medals in the men's 3,000m steeplechase. Yano, the 23-year-old Olympic champion, was home in a time of 8m 18.17s ahead of compatriots Wesley Kiprotich Koech (8:19.38) and Reuben Kosgei Seroney (8:19.82). Seroney won the gold in this event at the Sydney Olympics.

Australia's Stuart Rendell set a new Commonwealth Games record in men's hammer throw on way to winning the gold. Rendell, who bagged the gold in the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur, came up with an effort of 77.53m.

Canadian James Steacy picked up the silver with a heave of 74.75m and South Africa's Christian Haarmse the bronze with 73.81m. — Agencies

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