- NEW YORK (AP): Haile Gebrselassie won
the New York City Half Marathon in 59
minutes, 24 seconds Sunday, cruising away
two-thirds through the race to win his eighth
half marathon in eight attempts.
Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic gold
medalist for Ethiopia, pulled away from Abdi
Abdirahman of the United States shortly after
they emerged from Central Park along with
two-time Boston Marathon champion Robert
Cheruiyot of Kenya.
Hilda Kibet of Kenya won the women's race
in 1:10:32, outkicking defending champion
Catherine Ndereba by 1.15 seconds. Nina
Rillstone of New Zealand, a surprise leader
until the last 500 meters when the two
Kenyans passed her, was 3.75 back in third.
Near the 13-kilometer mark, the Somalia-born Abdirahman surged ahead to leave Cheruiyot behind,
and then Gebrselassie left Abdirahman behind for the final eight kilometers of the race.
Gebrselassie appeared comfortable as he ran alone down the West Side highway. One fan near the
finish at Battery Park on New York Harbor waved an Ethiopian flag in honor of Gebrselassie. Source
Ethiopian running great looks toward New York debut
2007-08-04 00:00:39 -
NEW YORK (AP) - Haile Gebrselassie rubbed the back of his neck as he mimicked the perils of
straining to see the tops of Manhattan skyscrapers.
There's something special about competing in cities like New York, London or Paris, said
Gebrselassie, perhaps the greatest distance runner in history. Win in one of those places, and there's
never a need to explain to anybody where the event took place.
But the 34-year-old Ethiopian had never raced in New York until now. Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic
champion and 22-time world record-holder, headlines a strong men's field at the second NYC Half-
Marathon.
About 10,000 entrants are expected Sunday for the 21.1-kilometer (13.1-mile) race, which begins with a
loop around Central Park in Midtown, continues through Times Square, then ends near Battery Park on
the southern tip of the island of Manhattan.
- «To win in New York, it's a dream,»
Gebrselassie said Friday at a news
conference at an Ethiopian restaurant
a few blocks off the race route.
Renowned for his longevity and
versatility, the 1996 and 2000 Olympic
10,000-meter champion has focused
on road racing and marathons since
the 2004 Games. Gebrselassie is
undefeated in seven career half-
marathons.
time makes competing in America, he said.
But he does hope to enter the New York City Marathon _ he's just not sure when. Gebrselassie watched
the finish in Central Park as a guest a few years ago.
New York Road Runners president Mary Wittenberg joked that Gebrselassie's recruitment set a record.
It dated to an appearance he made in New York in 1998.
Gebrselassie remembers the first time he competed in the United States _ it was the first time he'd ever
seen snow. He ran in the World Cross Country Junior Championships in Boston in March 1992.
The only part of the elements he's concerned about Sunday is pollen. He's already scouted out Central
Park to ensure it won't be a problem. Gebrselassie dropped out of the London Marathon in April
because of breathing problems and later determined it was because of allergies.
Gebrselassie's top challengers Sunday include Abdi Abdirahman of the U.S., a two-time Olympian;
Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya, the three-time Boston Marathon champion; and Hendrick Ramaala of South
Africa, the 2004 NYC Marathon winner. Defending champion Catherine Ndereba leads the women's
field.
Haile Did it Again!
| Ethiopia - Haile Gebrselassie wins New York City Half Marathon in 59:24 to keep unbeaten record |
| Haile GebreSelassie |
| Atlete Haile Gebrselassie Reveal part 1 CNN Atlete Haile Gebrselassie Reveal part 2 CNN Haile Gebrselassie Reveal part 3 |
| Videos |
| Haile Gebreselassie gets honorary doctorate degree Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie has received an honorary doctorate degree from Leeds Metropolitan University for his outstanding contribution to the sport. More |
| 9 Nov.2007 (CNN) -- Some athletes earn the right to be considered a sporting legend. Few, in truth, are truly deserving of such an honor. But there can be no quarrel over the greatness of Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie who, in a career spanning 16 years, has redefined the art of long-distance running. More |
| The greatest runner of them all |
Haile Gebrselassie chasing another Olympic medal
- June 3, 2008 (CBC) - "Once, he told this journalist, that in the eyes of his
countrymen he has accomplished nothing until he has duplicated the Olympic
marathon victories of fellow Ethiopians Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde." More
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| Haile Wins World's Richest Race In Second Fastest Time Ever 18 January 2008 (Dubai City Guide) - A blistering early race pace put paid to Haile Gebreselassie's world record chances at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon but the Ethiopian still stormed to victory in a time of 2:04:53 - the second fastest time in history. More |
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