Marathon News - Gebrselassie to Defend Dubai Marathon Title

Oct-2-2008

Gebrselassie to Defend Dubai Marathon Title
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

Organizers of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, set for January 16, in the United Arab Emirates, announced today that world marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie would defend his 2008 title. Gebrselassie's Dutch management firm, Global Sports Communications, confirmed his participation in a separate e-mail message to Race Results Weekly.

Gebrselassie, 35, owns the three fastest times in world history for the marathon, including last Sunday's 2:03:59 in Berlin, the first-ever sub-2:04 marathon. He'll certainly be looking to lower that mark in Dubai where organizers have put a USD 1 million bonus on the line in addition to the USD 250,000 first prize which is already the highest winner's check in marathon running.

In Dubai last January, Gebrselassie ran very aggressively through the first half of the race. But, his half-way split of 1:01:27 was simply too fast to sustain through the second half. Forced to slow down, he nonetheless ran a superb 2:04:53, then the world's second-fastest time.

"I made a mistake with the pace in Dubai last time," Gebrselassie told Berlin race organizers after his world record last Sunday. "I learned from that mistake. Everything has to be perfect for another record, weather, pacemakers. I feel I can do 2:03-something. If I don't get injured, maybe 2:02:59, but considering my shape and my age, 2:03:30, or 2:03:20."

While Gebrselassie's decision to run in Dubai is certainly a cause for celebration there, it will be taken as bad news by many of the sport's fans.
That's because there is a longing to see Gebrselassie compete against the world's other top-ranked marathoners, like Samuel Wanjiru, Martin Lel, Robert Cheruiyot, Abderrahim Goumri and Jaouad Gharib. The last time Gebrselassie competed in such a contest was in London in April, 2007, where he was forced to drop out due to breathing problems.

Anxious to bring the world record to Dubai --a surprisingly small race which had just 657 finishers last year-- race director Peter Connerton has tweaked the course a bit to ensure Gebrselassie a fast ride.

"It's up and down the coast road, dead flat, with just three or four turns," Connerton said. "And we'll ensure the pacemakers are up to the job. Haile will get every opportunity to set another record, and win the biggest bonus in marathon running."