Haile Gebreselassie, one of the world’s all-time great distance runners, is set to make his international half marathon debut in Bristol in just over two weeks.
The Ethiopian, who currently holds both the 5,000m (12:39.36) and 10,000m (26:22.75) world records, has indicated for some time that he would relish a new challenge and his national Federation has confirmed that a new chapter of the multiple World and Olympic champion’s illustrious career will begin at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Bristol on Sunday October 7.
Despite concentrating most of his efforts on the track and being relatively inexperienced at longer distances, Gebrselassie was able to win this year’s fiercely competitive Ethiopian Championship and Trials. The world will now be watching in anticipation as he makes his debut over this longer distance on the streets of Bristol.
Gebrselassie may well use the IAAF World Half Marathon as the starting point to his eventual transition to the marathon, following in the footsteps of his great rival, Kenyan Paul Tergat. Tergat hoped he would be the first man to break the one-hour barrier for the half marathon in the UK at last weekend’s Great North Run. After falling half a minute short of this target, the way has been left open for Gebrselassie to put Bristol firmly on the map by not only chasing victory but achieving the sub 60-minute time on the city’s flat course.
MEANWHILE, JON Brown has ruled himself out of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team for the Championships.
Brown has been thwarted by injuries since finishing fourth in the Sydney Olympic Marathon last year but felt he was returning to top form in time for the Bristol race. However, after flying into Britain last week from his Canadian home to complete his preparations at the Great North Run, Brown became unwell. He finished 13th in 65:25, almost four minutes outside his best.
Brown said: “I was disappointed with my form in the Great North Run and feel that I will not be able to do either myself or my country justice in the World Half Marathon.”
Reserve, Danny Robinson has been called into the team to make his Great Britain debut. Robinson finished fifth in the Trial race in Glasgow in August.
(The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Bristol have received Lottery funding of up to £85,000 from UK Sport’s World Class Events Programme.)