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Xing wins 5,000-meters at East Asian Games
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-04 15:25
MACAU (AP) _ Olympic gold medalist Xing Huina won the women's 5,000-meter
race Friday, when China ensured first-place in the East Asian Games athletics
standings by winning five of the last eight finals.
Xing Huina (L) runs in front of Japan's
Hiromi Ominami during the women's 5000 metre final at the 4th East Asian
Games in Macau November 4, 2005. Xing won the gold medal in the event as
Ominami took silver. [Reuters] | Xing, who won
the gold medal in the 10,000 meters in Athens, won here in 16 minutes, 4.56
seconds as China swept the first three gold medals.
Japan's Hiromi Ominami was second in 16:10.77 while South Korea's Bae Hae-jin
took the bronze in 16:35.35.
China went into the final day of competition in athletics leading Japan by
seven golds with eight events remaining. The Chinese finished the athletics
competition with 26 golds, 10 ahead of Japan.
"The athletes from Japan have done well here," said Xing. "My condition
wasn't the best and it was really hot out there but I knew it was important to
go out and get the gold medal."
Xing ran alongside Ominami for almost the entire race. She slowed down at
several stages but finished strong, crossing the line about 40 meters ahead of
Ominami.
"I didn't have any intention to slow down," said Xing. "But when I noticed my
competitor was coming up I was able to increase my speed."
Feng Yun got China started earlier with a win in the women's 100 hurdles.
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