Haile Gebrselassie dominates Great Australian Run in Melbourne
FoxNews/AFP
November 30, 2008
HAILE Gebrselassie burnt off his rivals to record a commanding win in the 15km Great Australian Run through Melbourne on Sunday.
The athletics legend from Ethiopia, troubled by jet-lag, broke away from Patrick Makau, from Kenya, with four kilometres to run, and accelerated to win the inaugural event in a time of 42min 40 sec.
Half-marathon specialist Makau trailed in 35 seconds behind Gebrselassie to take second, with Australia's Collis Birmingham beating Craig Mottram for third in a time of 43min 35sec.
Makau stayed on Gebrselassie's shoulder for much of the race, before the Ethiopian wonder made his move.
"After 11km I decided to stop (Makau) there, otherwise it was just too dangerous if I brought him up to the last kilometre," Gebrselassie said.
"I expected to run a good time but when I woke up this morning I didn't feel so good because of the lack of sleep."
Gebrselassie arrived in Australia only on Friday, after flying from Addis Ababa to run his first race since his world record 2hr 03min 59sec in the Berlin marathon in September.
"I should have come five or six days ago but I made a mistake because I only arrived on Friday morning," he said.
"I expected (the jet-lag) and I said to myself that I can handle it, but it was not easy when I came here.
"The next time I come to Australia I have to come early."
Two-time world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba, from Kenya, meanwhile won the women's race in a time of 50min 43sec, well outside the year's best 15km time of 47min 38sec set by Kenya's Philes Ongori.
"I was trying to just keep my pace," Ndereba said.
"It's four weeks since I ran my last marathon and I was looking to press myself."
New Zealand's Alice Mason was second in 51min 27sec, with leading Australian Lisa Weightman third in 51min 31sec.