Haile Gebrselassie: No challenge is overpowering for the runner – Athletics news
Haile Gebrselassie is one of the most formidable marathon and middle distance runners in the world of athletics. The veteran runner is not only a victorious athlete, but also a successful businessman, social worker and a family man.
Taking a close look at his performance on tracks like the one in Manchester, he rarely finds a match who could challenge him. This year, while living up to the expectations of his fans world around, the formidable runner from Ethiopia, successfully bagged
his fourth victory at the Bupa Great Manchester Run. The event is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
For clocking an emphatic effort 28:10, Gebrselassie depicted enough pace to pulverise his opponents easily. After winning the events of 2005, 2009 and 2010, this was the fourth time the veteran runner prevailed on the track. For ending the race second, Great
Britain’s Chris Thompson crossed the finishing line in 28:21.
After finishing second, Thompson, the silver medallist at European Championships 2010 in Barcelona, said, “By going with Haile I was sacrificing myself a little. But it was the right thing to do and I held on quite well.” while commenting upon the pace of
his runner-up rival, Gebrselassie said, “I was quite surprised how well he ran, because I did not know him before.”
Contrary to the men’s event, where a pre-favourite of the race emerged as the winner, the women’s race brought a stunning surprise. Producing the moments of pure joy for the thousands of local spectators, it was Britain’s Helen Clitheroe who claimed the
title for displaying a personal best of 31:45.
Gebrselassie, who was determined to reclaim the course record, could not embark upon the target amid the challenges posed by a cool temperature, wind and intermittent rain. Despite of having no pacemakers to set up his momentum, Gebrselassie managed to start
fast. Having entered as the last athlete in the area, he was the first to start the race right after the gun.
Displaying his potential, the 38-year-old covered the first kilometres in two minutes and forty five seconds, while a large group of athletes were following him closely. Since he did not want to allow anyone to come close, instead of playing the role of
a pacemaker, he preferred maintaining significant distance with the rivals and cruised his way into the gushing wind.
Martin Fagan from Ireland managed to make room and took over the lead from the veteran runner. This went on until the 4km mark which was covered in eleven minutes and twenty five seconds. The Ethiopian then got into the driving seat all over again. Beyond
this, the leading group started to stretch, but since Gebrselassie did not have a pacemaker with him, he could not help but to slow down and the followers managed to catch him up.
The leading pack went on to pass the mid-way point in fourteen minutes and sixteen seconds. This was the point when wind started to blow in a favourable direction. Taking the opportunity, Gebrselassie decided to begin his decisive move and created a kilometre
split and maintained the speed of 2:45 per kilometre. At this stage, it was Thompson alone who could keep up with the pace set by the legendary runner.
Serhiy Lebid from Ukraine secured the third position in the race, while Craig Mottram from Australia finished fourth.
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