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Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain smiles after winning the men's 1500 metres of the 2009 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Berlin on August 19, 2009. Kamel clocked 3:35.93 to win gold. [Xinhua] |
Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain won men's 1,500m title at the 12th World Athletics Championships on Wednesday.
Kamel, who was born in Kenya, won the gold medal with 3 minutes, 35.93 seconds. Ethiopia's Deresse Mekonnen won silver at 3:36.01 while defending champion Bernard Lagat of the United States only took bronze in 3:36.20.
Kamel, 26, is the son of Billy Konchellah, a former Kenyan 800m runner who won two World Championship gold medals.
"I'm really happy because nobody expected such a race today. Nobody expected Yusuf to win the world title," Kamel told reporters after the race.
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Athletes compete during the men's 1500m final of the 2009 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Berlin, Germany, Aug. 19, 2009. Kamel clocked 3 minutes 35.93 seconds to claim the title. [Xinhua] |
"I was confident that I can win because I had good times at 800 meters and I felt OK... My father won two world golds, now I want to get three to beat him," he added.
Defending champion Lagat told reporters that "it is disappointing to surrender the world title".
"But I proved that I still can run with the young guys. I was able to come out here and got a third place," said the 34-year-old.
(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2009)
