IAAF ratifies Bekele's world record

Monte Carlo:

Kenenisa Bekele's world record in the 10,000 meters has been ratified by the IAAF. The governing body of athletics ratified the Ethiopian's time of 26 minutes, 17.53 seconds, which he ran on August 26 in Brussels, Belgium. Bekele also held the previous record of 26:20.31, which had been set in June in Ostrava, Czech Republic. In September, Bekele was named the IAAF's male athlete of the year, with Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva taking the women's award. The IAAF also ratified Tatyana Lysenko's world record in the women's hammer throw. The Russia threw 77.06 meters in Moscow on July 15. The previous record was set in August 1999 by Romania's Mihaela Melinte at 76.07. (AP)