Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Thursday 9 augusT 2018
Former world hurdles champion Bett killed in car crash at 28

By MUTWIRI MUTUOTA and I would make in my life," he
GERALD IMRAY said in an interview for his
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — IAAF profile in 2016. "From
Nicholas Bett, a Kenyan there, my life changed.
runner who won the 2015 I have been able to do
world championship title in things for my family like
the 400-meter hurdles, was building (a) house, buying
killed in an early-morning a tractor."
car crash Wednesday in Julius Yego, who produced
the country's famed high- another major surprise at
altitude training region, po- the same world champi-
lice and his coach said. He onships to win the javelin
was 28. gold for Kenya, wrote on
Bett had only just returned Facebook on Wednesday:
home this week from the "Dark morning, horrifying
African championships in news! Can't believe it's real
Nigeria. but go rest with the angels
Nandi county police com- Nicholas Bett!"
mander Patrick Wambani "I'm shocked beyond
said Bett was killed in the words!" Yego added. "My
crash on the road between n this Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, file photo, Kenya's Nicholas Bett celebrates after winning the men's roommate in Beijing when
Eldoret and Kapsabet, 400m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing. we won gold together and
two of Kenya's best-known Associated Press it was just the other day we
distance-running train- were in Nigeria."
ing towns in the Rift Valley 2-year-old twin boys. had become a permanent player before turning to Bett also won bronze med-
region. He was born and His gold in the 400 hurdles part of his career and he track and field. He won the als at the African champi-
lived in the region. at the 2015 world cham- learned to deal with it. high jump at the national onships in 2014 in the 400
Bett was driving alone, pionships in Beijing was a His victory in Beijing was es- junior trials in 2010 and also hurdles and 4x400-meter
Wambani said. breakthrough victory for pecially popular in Kenya, tried the 110-meter hurdles relay. "Bett earned the
Bett's SUV hit bumps in a Kenya, normally a power- where Bett was known as a before finally settling on the country great honors in his
road and rolled, landing on house only in middle- and humble athlete from a sim- 400 hurdles. outstanding victories," Ke-
its roof in a ditch, his coach, long-distance events. ple, rural background, like Even then, it didn't come nyan President Uhuru Ke-
Vincent Mumo, told The As- The triumph from Lane 8 many of Kenya's distance- easy. He wasn't the best nyatta wrote on his official
sociated Press. Mumo said was a big surprise as he be- running champions. hurdler and recalled miss- Twitter page. "My deepest
the accident happened at came the first Kenyan to win The difference was Bett ing "about five hurdles" in sympathies and heartfelt
about 6 a.m. a major title in the event. It wasn't a natural. Instead, the world championship condolences to his family,
"I'm out of words," Mumo signaled that Kenya was he had to persevere to be semifinals before sneaking relatives and friends."
said. "We thank god for his ready to challenge in the successful in a punishing through to the final as one The IAAF said it was "deeply
life." shorter distances, too. event and one that isn't of the fastest losers. saddened and shocked"
Mumo said Bett's twin It was also a significant per- popular in Kenya. He won the final in a Ke- by Bett's death. Athletics
brother, Aron Koech, who sonal achievement for Bett, He may have been born nyan national record of Kenya said it sent condo-
is also an athlete, was "be- who was carrying a foot in the Rift Valley, the heart- 47.79 seconds. lences to Bett's family and
yond grief." injury and ran through the land of Kenyan running, but "I was more shocked to would help organize the
Bett was also the father of pain. Since 2014, the injury he was initially a volleyball run a time I never thought funeral.q

No special treatment for Usain

Bolt: Central Coast Mariners

GOSFORD, Australia (AP) the Mariners as he hasn't really looking forward to
— Central Coast Mariners viewed video from Bolt's having him train with the
coach Mick Mulvey says previous trials in Germany, club."
Usain Bolt will be treated South Africa or Norway. Mulvey said he will judge
as any other player when The Mariners coach said Bolt purely on his perfor-
he joins the Australian A- it is not out of the ordinary mance during his trial pe-
League club this month on for potential signings to be riod.
an "indefinite" trial. asked to train with the club "I've had three dozen guys
Mulvey will make the fi- for several weeks before coming in for trials. I haven't had contacted the clubs time through the lens of a
nal decision over whether being offered a deal. had time to go and watch for which Bolt had trialed camera, both good and
Bolt is offered a contract "It just happens to be that (video of) every player and received positive bad, so getting him on the
as the Jamaican sprinting this is Usain Bolt," he said. that's come in for training," feedback on his ability. ground and getting him
great pursues his long-held "I've spoken to him. His at- he said. "I'm sure when he "We've heard that every with the boots on will be
dream of playing profes- titude towards this was arrives he'll give a good ac- time he's been training the most telling part."
sional football. deadly serious. count for himself and we'll with them he's made dra- Mielekamp said it was pos-
Mulvey told the Austra- "If it was up to him he'd see what happens from matic improvements while sible Bolt could play for
lian Associated Press on be coming in without any there. If it works, he will be he was there," Mielekamp Central Coast in pre-sea-
Wednesday the eight- hoopla but that's impos- offered a contract." said. "We will be looking for son matches ahead of the
time Olympic champion sible for a person of his stat- Mariners chief executive dramatic improvements. start in October of Austra-
would start from scratch at ure. I'm really happy and Shaun Mielekamp said he "It's hard to tell a lot of the lia's A-League.q