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Gebrselassie; Bekele show excellent form in Hengelo

Posted May 27th, 2007 at 1:37 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Haile Gebrselassie.gif It has been nearly three years since he raced on the track, but Haile Gebrselassie showed excellent form tonight in Hengelo, breaking the 27 minute barrier for the eighth time in his illustrious career.

Gebrselassie, whose official age is 34 but many observers believe he is at least a few years older, finished fifth in 26:52.81. The race was won by his compatriot Sileshi Sihine who ran the second-fastest 10,000m of his career: 26:48.73. Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya was third in a personal best 26:49.01 and Moses Mosop was fourth in 26:49.55, also setting a personal best.

Gebrselassie has broken 27 minutes more times than any other runner. World record holder Kenenisa Bekele is next on the list with five sub-27:00 clockings, while Sihine is third with four.

Speaking of Bekele, he easily won the two-mile event in Hengelo, covering the last lap in about 55 seconds. A recent story in the Kenyan press about Bekele’s struggle to regain his form after the IAAF World Cross Country Championships may have overstated the depth of his problems. He clocked 8:13.51 to Edwin Soi’s 8:16.98.

Also of note in Hengelo, was Paul Kipsiele Koech’s domination of the steeplechase, winning by more than 15 seconds in 8:01.05; and Gelete Burika’s victory in the women’s 5000m in 14:38.18.