Bahrain's Kamel wins men's 1,500m title at world championships

Bahrain's Kamel wins men's 1,500m title at world championships

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.

BERLIN, Aug. 19 -- 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 800mrunner 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.


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.

"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)