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G21 AFRICA: 35TH IAAF WORLD CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - MOMBASA - Staff Writer MORAA GITAA reports on the grueling sports event in Kenya that tested the track and field stars.

Mombasa, KENYA - "... It was very difficult. I have never run a race in such difficult conditions ever before in my life. But I tried all I could. I gave it all I could. I did not want to collapse and have people pick me up. I made a decision to drop out. I thought I was okay when I dropped out, but from what people tell me, I was not conscious when I stopped running, I do not know what might have happened if I had continued running. At first, I did not want to believe that I had dropped out and was not capable of finishing the race. But I am not too upset now. I tried all I could. I would like to say congratulations to him (Eritrean Zerseney Tardesse) He is strong runner. I beat him for the last three years, but well done for him for coming back and handling the conditions... " - Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele - Olympic and World 10,000m Champion, and recently dethroned World Cross Country Champion.

I think I should entitle this article 'Tale of a Brutal Course That Broke Celebrated Athletes.' But that will come later in this piece, for now...

The successful and peaceful hosting of the 35th IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa on Saturday 24th March 2007 which cost over 400 million to organize was a great and uplifting victory for Kenya. ...READ MORE

DAY ONE: - DISTAFF POWER - MPHUTHUMI NTABENI looks at gender bias and power.

Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA - I've a friend whom I grew up with who regards singleton status as chic, and celebrates it in fads like the 'Bridget Jones syndrome.' Actually the name of this syndrome confuses me since I thought, from reading the book, Bridget Jones was a chick in desperate need to fall in love, get married, and thus avoid spinsterhood.

The cult of Bridget Jones represents a broader cultural shift in the way singlehood and long-term commitment are regarded in out times. It used to be that being single was a temporary state. Today it is regarded as a permanent 'positive life choice,' according to soapbox language. We've managed to turn social atomisation and the personal insecurity of being single into a cause for celebration.

I'm told this Bridget Jones cult makes men feel redundant and also feel insecure about loosing their breadwinning roles, something called the 'sperm donor syndrome.' Apparently men's inability to establish a firm role that replaces their breadwinner status makes them ill-equipped for modern life, seeing themselves only as good for nothing but sperm donating. All this I give as a background to my friend's mindset. ... READ MORE