Beijing boost for Gebrselassie

2006-09-25 19:26

Berlin - Haile Gebrselassie, fresh off his win in the Berlin Marathon, will compete in Japan in December while he builds up for his attempt to break the world record and win the Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.

"The victory in Berlin has given me more confidence for the marathon at the Olympics," the Ethiopian said on Monday. "Though I have to qualify for the Ethiopian team for Beijing first.

"I was confident before Berlin that I would run well and this performance shows that I'm one of the best in the marathon," said Gebrselassie, who won the 10 000 Olympic title twice.

Gebrselassie had been on pace for much of the Berlin race to break the world record of 2 hours, 4 minutes, 55 seconds set by Paul Tergat of Kenya on the same course in 2003. Running in strong wind, Gebrselassie finished in 2:05:56, the fastest time in the world this year.

"People tell me that Paul Tergat was doing extra long runs before he broke the world record in Berlin three years ago. Well I'm used to running 40km as well. That's what you have to do for the marathon," he said.

"The pacemakers did a good job overall, it's just that you can't expect to have several runners with you toward the end of a race and on course for 2:03 or 2:04. Paul was lucky he had two men with him late in the race. I admire Paul greatly but I think I can break the marathon world record sometime in the next year."

The 33-year-old Gebrselassie won four straight world titles over 10 000m and set 21 world records before he turned to road racing.

The Ethiopian said he would run in the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan on December 3.

- SAPA