A few minutes before the start of Friday mornings 10,000-meter race, Almaz Ayana, a 24-year-old distance runner from Ethiopia, kneeled on the track and quickly made a cross over her chest. When the prerecorded sound of a gunshot rang through Rios Olympic Stadium, the mass of 37 runners took off and swiftly separated into two groups; Ayana and the defending champion from Ethiopia, Tirunesh Dibaba, ran in the first pack.For a dozen or so laps, they loped along in an orderly line, as though they were queuing up for coffee. Then, at the 5,200-meter mark, the front-runners prepared to lap some of the runners who lagged behind -- and Ayana broke free.Like a getaway car weaving through traffic, she swerved around the laggards, leaving the rest of the leaders in blind, hopeless pursuit. As the competition wore on, Ayana pulled farther and farther ahead, eventually setting a new world record in the 10,000-meter race: 29 minutes, 17.45 seconds.It was just her second time ever competing in the event.The first occurred just over a month ago, when the newcomer took on Dibaba at the Ethiopian Olympic trials in Hengelo, Netherlands. The results shocked the distance community -- not just because it was Ayanas first official race, but also because it was the first time that Dibaba, one of the most lauded distance runners in history, lost a 10,000-meter race. Before that day, the 31-year-old three-time gold medalist had competed in the event 11 times and won them all. Then came Ayana.Dibaba, who was returning from a hiatus after having a son, is royalty in the racing world. Her cousin, Derartu Tulu, was the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Dibabas older sister, Ejegayehu, took silver in Athens. Their younger sister, Genzebe, is tapped to win the 1,500-meter race next week. According to a profile in Vogue, the sisters are celebrities in Ethiopia, where they travel by car to avoid being mobbed. Tiruneshs wedding to fellow distance runner Sileshi Sihine was shown on national television, and the couple is opening a luxury hotel this fall.Tirunesh Dibaba lives in the capital city of Addis Ababa, but she grew up in Bekoji, a rural mountain community of about 16,000 people thats produced an extraordinary number of Olympians. The towns runners have won 10 gold medals in track and field, more than entire countries. Ayana was raised in the same area, admiring the legendary sisters from afar. When I was very young, green and wet, I was thinking of the Dibaba family, she said after the race.Dibaba, who called Ayana her lovely young sister, said she was pleased with the results. But she admitted that the pace gave her problems. In my experience, it was very difficult, she said.Unlike sprints, which have a less complicated mandate (run fast!), the 10,000-meter race requires a great deal of strategy; a moderate pace benefits runners like Dibaba, who is known for her furious kick at the end. The event poses an excruciating test of both endurance and speed. Competitors must run 25 laps quickly, but carefully, so that they dont melt into exhaustion -- which is why Ayanas fluid, relentless gait, especially after her surge at the halfway point, was so stunning.Afterward, one journalist mused aloud: I was like ... does she think this is a 5K?Almost immediately, the results invited skepticism. Ayana hadnt just beaten Wang Junxias record, she had annihilated it, topping the 1993 time by 15 seconds. It was a shocking outcome, especially given that Junxia later admitted to participating in Chinas doping program. After the race, Swedish runner Sarah Lahti, who finished 12th, told the newspaper Expressen that she didnt believe Ayana was 100 percent. She added: I cannot say that she is not clean, but there is a little doubt.When asked about the allegations, Ayana smiled. My doping is my training, she said. My doping is Jesus.For Ayana, the race began with a prayer and ended with a call to worship. At the 8,000-meter mark, she was so far in front of the pack, the stadium began to stir; applause followed behind her, rippling through the crowd like a sonic wave. When she hit the final stretch, the old world-record time flashed on a screen near the medal stand, reminding the audience of what was at stake. Everyone rose and cheered.Afterward, once she had crossed the finish line and learned what she had accomplished, Ayana waited patiently for Dibaba, who would finish in third. The young Ethiopian had easily outraced the legend and the rest of the group.And history, too. Air Max 200 Pas Cher . 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But Bennett, 66, does not feel the dual role will cause any problems and is looking forward to helping the national side build on their success against the Kiwis.They had a wonderful series win against New Zealand but people are talking now about the next level the team can get to, he told Sky Sports News HQ.Thats why Im here - I believe I can get them to the next level; thats my challenge and thats the players challenge. Bennett feels he will be able to comfortably combine the role with his job at Brisbane Broncos Ive coached Australia on three occasions and Im pretty familiar with the workload. There are no interruptions because it is the off-season for Brisbane.I wouldnt have considered the job if I didnt think we stood a chance of being a very competitive team and I look forward to working with them.And he added: I have spoken to some of the squad and I dont think assessing them will be an issue. We get all of the Super League in Australia and we can get any of the games we want over there too.There are 10 of them playing in England and 10 in Australia so Im pretty comfortable with that. Thats why Im here - I believe I can get them to the next level; thats my challenge and thats the players challenge.dddddddddddd Wayne Bennett Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood also defended the decision, underlining his belief that Bennett is unquestionably the right man for the role.Its about ability and competence and we believe this is the right appointment to take the team to the next level, he said.Everybodys entitled to an opinion but I think youd have to look very hard to find a more suitable coach than this man on my right. Wayne Bennett exclusive Eddie Hemmings spoke exclusively with Wayne Bennett Meanwhile, Bennett has confirmed Wigan loose forward Sean OLoughlin will remain as the national captain, insisting he will not make changes for changes sake.Im not here to re-invent the wheel. Steve has done a really good job, said Bennett.The team has shown some improvement and theyve just had a wonderful series victory over New Zealand.Everybody is talking about taking that next step and thats why Im here, hopefully I can take them to the next level. Also See: New era for England Wood: Bennett the right man Barrie and Terrys biggest hits Rugby League on Sky ' ' '
