Africans again swept the field in a major Olympic athletic event on Sunday, taking all three medals in the men's marathon.

Gezahagne Abara of Ethiopia won the race in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 11 seconds. Eric Wainaina of Kenya took silver in 2:10:31s, and Tesfaye Tola, also of Ethiopia, won the bronze in 2:11:10s.

The gold medallist in 1996, South Africa's Josia Thugwane, came in only at 20th place.

The wins brought Africa's medal total to 32, two fewer than in Atlanta. Ethiopia was at the top of the table, with four gold, one silver and three bronze medals. Kenya followed with two gold, three silver and two bronze.