VIENNA: Ethiopian distance star Haile Gebrselassie won his third consecutive Vienna half marathon yesterday, timing one hour one minute and 14 seconds.
Gebrselassie, a double Olympic 10,000 metres champion who turns 40 next week, took control of the race at the midway point.
After crossing the line ahead of Kenya’s Hosea Kipkemboi (1hr02.21) and Ethiopian Mekuant Ayenew (1hr02.21) he reflected: “It was a magnificent festival, with a golden public who didn’t stop encouraging me.” In March, Gebrselassie stated he was still in love with running and had no intention of retiring.
He is scheduled to take part in a race in Bern on May 18 before defending his Great Manchester 10km Run title on May 26. His Vienna performance was outside his two previous winning times in 2011 and 2012, and well short of his best ever half marathon mark of 58 minutes 55 seconds.
Meanwhile, Josh Ross will become the first Australian man in six years to contest an individual sprint at a major championships after claiming an impressive 200-metre victory at the national world trials in Sydney yesterday.
Ross won the event in a B-qualifying time of 20.57 seconds, just four hundredths of a second outside his personal best set back in 2007. It came a day after he claimed a record-equalling seventh national 100m title, guaranteeing him a spot in the 4x100m relay squad for the world championships in Moscow in August. AGENCIES
