Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Ethiopia’s former two-time Olympic and four-time world 10,000m champion Haile Gebrselassie will tackle the 21.1Km distance at the P.F. Chang’s Rock n’ Roll Arizona Marathon and Half Marathon in Phoenix, Arizona on 15 January, 2006.
 
Gebrselassie, who won the World Half Marathon title in Bristol, England in 2001, will race for only the second time since smashing the course and Ethiopian records at the ING Amsterdam Marathon in October where he clocked 2:06:20, the year's fastest performance. In his last race, he won the Zevenheuvelenloop (Seven Hills) Run 15-K in Nijmegen, Netherlands on 20 November. The Phoenix race will mark the great Ethiopian's first road race in the USA.
 
“There is no better half marathon in the world in January than Arizona,” Gebrselassie said from his training base in Addis Ababa. “The weather is perfect for the half marathon and I have heard that it is a very wonderful race to take part in.”

Gebrselassie's personal best in the event is 1:00:03 from Bristol, but he also has a 59:41 to his credit from 2002, run on the slightly downhill course in Lisbon. He firmly believes that he can run faster in Phoenix.

“This is not a preparation race for the London marathon in April,” Gebrselassie said. “I will be training specifically for Arizona and plan on running a very fast time there, although it is difficult to say now that I will try and break the World record. It will be a serious race and not just a preparation one because I expect some strong competitors.”
 
Gebrselassie also added that his very strong relationship with race organizer Mike Long was a major factor in his decision.

“Mike is a very good friend,” he said. “When he asked me to compete in the race, I just could not refuse. He is someone I hold in very high regard.”
 
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF