Local favorite Halil Akkas clocked in eight minutes and 30.16 seconds to take the title of the men's steeplechase, the first athletics gold for the host Turkey at the 23rd World Universiade on Wednesday.

With thundering applauses and deafening cheers from the audience, Akkas took the lead after over 2,000 meters and out-sprinted Ion Luchianov of Moldova in the last lap to cross the finish line first.

Luchianov timed in eight minutes and 30.66 second to take the silver, and the bronze went to Ruben Ramolefi of South Africa in eight minutes and 31.53 seconds.

After taking the first gold for the host, Akkas became the day's rock star in the Ataturk Stadium, where the opening ceremony had been held.

Several young men jumped off the stand to enter the field, hoping for pictures with their hero, but only found no way for them to fulfill their dream as Akkas was engulfed by TV members and photographers, who did not want to miss the chance to record the historical moment for the country.

Wearing a national flag, Akkas jogged around the track to thank his countrymen's support by saying: "Thanks to my country and my people, the gold belongs to them."

"This is the memorial day of my life, I am so happy to be the winner and thank for my parents and my family," added Akkas.

Boosted by her compatriot's fine performance, Turkan Erismis sped up in the last lap to take the bronze of the women's 3,000 meters steeplechase by clocking her personal best of nine minutes and 50.32 seconds.

Livia Toth of Hungary took the gold in nine minutes and 40.37 seconds, followed by Victoria Mitchell of Australia in nine minutes and 47.54 seconds.

In the running track, Jamaicans proved their speed by clinching both the gold and silver of the men's 400m, while Russian Natalya Nazarova ran the fastest of the night after clocking in 51.31 seconds to win the women's 400m.

Gerd Kanter of Estonia finished with 65.29 meters to bag the title of the men's discus throw, while Omar Ghazaly of Egypt won the silver in 62.68. The bronze went to Galdor Mate of Hungary who made 61.91 meters in his fifth effort.

Chinese Wu Tao, who returned empty-handed in the 10th IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, took the seventh place with 59.67.

"The competition level was high than what I expected, and my rivals did much better than me in the first three attempts," said Wu, who just scored four of six attempts in the event.

In previous finals, Latvian Ainars Kovals won the men's javelin throw by 80.67 meters after more than three hours ferocious competition. Tero Jarvenppa of Finland took the silver in 79.61, and the bronze went to Stefan Muller of Switzerland in 78.57.

Julia Hutter of Germany won the women's pole vault by clearing 4.25 meters, beating Nadine Rohr of Switzerland and Dimitra Emmanouil of Greece to second and third respectively.

Source: Xinhua