Abera confirms he is best marathoner on earth

Ethiopian Gezahegne Abera confirmed on Friday he is currently the best marathoner on the planet with a classic victory in the opening event of the eighth World championships.

The 42.195 kms men's road race on a hot, still Canadian night resolved over the final metres into a gripping duel between two Africans in Abera and Kenyan Simon Biwott.

As the pair strode into the Commonwealth stadium, the result was still in doubt before Abera summoned the last of his physical and mental resources with a searing final burst to become the first man to win both the world and Olympic titles.

Abera won by just one second over the Berlin champion in two hours 12 minutes 42 seconds, the closest win in the history of the world championships. European gold medallist Stefano Baldini was well back in third place in 2:13:18.

Portuguese Rosa Mota, equally dominant in the women's event in the late 1980s, is the only other person to hold both titles.

"When I got into the stadium, I knew I was going to win because of my sprinting ability," Abera said. "To win the world championships on top of the Olympics is just fantastic. It was a great night for Africa."

WORTHY SUCCESSOR
Ethiopians have had a special affection for the marathon since Abebe Bikila padded to consecutive Olympic titles in 1960 and 1964.

Abera is now a worthy successor to his great predecessor, whose premature death in 1973 is marked by a monumental tomb in Addis Ababa.

"If God helps me, I hope to do more than Bikila," Abera said. "I was very happy to be a hero in Sydney and a hero here."

Trinidad's Ronnie Holassie was the early pacemaker as the field strode through the streets of the Canadian prairie town, but he was gathered in by the pack shortly before the race was an hour old.

At the 25 kms mark New York and London champion Abdelkader El Mouaziz of Morocco accelerated to the front on the bridge across the North Saskatchewan river.

But this time he was unable to maintain his momentum and was caught over the next 10 kms by a group of six including the three medallists.

As the leading group headed back to the stadium, Biwott surged to the front but was unable to shrug off Abera as they swapped the lead over the final kilometres.

Finally, it was Abera who prevailed as the pair raced around the track with Biwott unable to match his finishing kick.

"I tried my very best but he was too strong," Biwott said. "It was a very exciting finish, I'm very happy with the silver medal."