While the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden produced most of the headlines during the last week, there was also some interesting running at the African Championships, held in Bambous, Mauritius. Kenyan Alex Kipchirchir produced a rare double, first winning the 800 meters in 1:46.62 minutes in front of Ahmed Ismail (Sudan/1:46.65) and Alfred Kirwa (Kenya/1.46.85), and then taking the 1500m. In another close finish, he clocked 3:46.54 to beat Adil Kaouich (Morocco/3:46.72) in a tactical race.

The best performance in the men’s events came from Kenyan Paul Kipsiele Koech, who won the steeplechase in a new championships record of 8:11.74. He was more than 20 seconds clear of Abdelkader Hachlaf (Morocco/8:33.52).

As expected, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele took the 5,000m, but it was an unusually slow race—probably the slowest in which Bekele has won an international gold medal. He clocked 14:03.41 to beat Mike Kigen (Kenya/14.05.12). The Kenyans were beaten again in the 10,000m. Moses Kipsiro (Uganda) took the title after another sprint finish in 28:03.46. Kigen won a second silver in 28:03.70. “I know Kigen well, since we trained together. I was determined to beat the Kenyans,” Kipsiro said after his victory.

In the women’s 800m final Janeth Jepkosgei (Kenya) upset Maria Mutola (Mozambique) by winning in 2:00.64. Mutola clocked 2:01.08 for second place. Nouria Merah Benida (Algeria) won the 1500m in 4:23.26, while Jeruto Kiptum (Kenya) took the steeplechase in 10:00.02. The women’s 5,000m was a slow final as well. Meseret Defar (Ethiopia) won in 15:56.00, just edging out countrywoman Tirunesh Dibaba (15:56.04). The 10,000m final produced the best women’s result. Edith Masai (Kenya) clocked a championships record of 31:27.96. Her countrywomen Isabella Ochichi (31:29.43) and Emily Chebet (31:33.39) took silver and bronze.