Memorial Van Damme race Golden league1. Kenensia Bekele (Eth) 26:46.19. 2. Moses Masai (Ken) 26:49.20 3. Micah Kogo (Ken) 26:58.42. 4. Bernard Kipyego, (Ken) 26:59.51 5. Robert Sigei, (Ken) 27:16.48 6. Dieudonne Disi (Rwa) 27:22.28. The 10000m national icon, Dieudonne Disi set a new national record after finishing sixth in the Memorial Van Damme Golden League in Brussels, Belgium on Friday.Disi clocked 27:22:28 bring to an end the fifteen-year national record of 27:55:45 which was set by retired national athlete, Mathius Ntawurikura at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics .Disi came off stiff challenge in a star-studied race which was composed of regional champions, Kenyans and Ethiopians respectively to also obtain qualification mark for next year’s Olympic Games due to be held in Beijing, China. Disi ran personal best 27:53.51 before heading to Belgium last week.However, the World record holder Kenensia Bekele of Ethiopia won the race after clocking 26:46.19.Speaking to Times Sport from Belgium, Disi lauded the national team for the encouragement they have given him during his preparations. “I was really motivated by the encouragement given by my fellow athletes who accompanied me before departing for the golden league,” Disi said, adding that he attributes this good performance to over 50 local based runners who trained with him ahead of the meet.Disi who did not take part in last year’s event was invited by the international athletics body to participate in last week’s event after failing to qualify past the heat stages in the 500m in the World Championships in Athletics which climaxed in Osaka early this month.The IAAF (International Amateur Athletic Federation) in 1998 initiated the golden league meeting which have turned out to be the most prestigious Athletic meetings to date .They include Van Damme(Brussels) ,Oslo, Paris, Rome, Zurich and Berlin.The 2007 Golden league is the ten edition of the IAAF’s annual series of six athletics meets, held across Europe, with athletes having the chance to win the Golden League Jackpot of $1 million.The athletes, that win their discipline at the time of six meetings, can claim a share of the US $ 1 million dollar jackpot. Ends
