Haile Gebrselassie wins the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half-Marathon in Phoenix in a World record (© Elite Racing)
Haile Gebrselassie posted his third road running World record (pending ratification) of 2006 last weekend when he ran 1:11:37 for 25 kilometres at Alphen aan den Rijn.
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In January, he had run 58:55 for the Half Marathon with a 55:48 for 20 kilometres en route, both marks are also pending ratification.
The 32-year-old Ethiopian running legend continues to add to the wide range of events at which he has set a World record or World best performance. These now include 2000 metres (indoors), 3000 metres (indoors), 2 miles (indoors and out), 5000 metres (indoors and out), 10,000 metres, 10 kilometres, 15 kilometres, 10 miles, 20 kilometres, the Half Marathon and 25 kilometres.
On twenty-two occasions Gebrselassie has bettered the previous fastest time in history. However, not all of these have been ratified as IAAF world records.
The Two Miles is not an official record distance, indoors or outdoors, nor is the indoors 2000 metres. The 10 Miles is also not on the approved list of road running distances and a 15-kilometre split was not officially timed.
The great 'Phantom Finn' Paavo Nurmi had 22 ratified IAAF World records – and an astonishing 18 more unratified marks. Among non-runners pole vaulter Sergey Bubka is in a class of his own with 37 official marks and two others not approved.
To pass Nurmi's ratified total, Gebrselassie would probably have to return to the track and go after the rarely contested long distance marks. But these ought to be easy pickings: the World record times for 20,000 metres, 25,000 metres, and 30,000 metres have all been surpassed by him on the road, as would an extension of his best Half Marathon pace for just past another minute to complete the distance in a One Hour Run.
Marty Post for the IAAF
Listed below are Gebrselassie's World records and World best performances.
1) 12:56.96 - 5000m - Hengelo 04 Jun 94
2) 8:07.46 * - 2 miles - Kerkrade 27 May 95
3) 26:43.53 - 10,000m - Hengelo 05 Jun 95
4) 12:44.39 - 5000m - Zurich 16 Aug 95
5) 13:10.98 - 5000m - Sindelfingen (i) 27 Jan 96
6) 7:30.72 - 3000m - Stuttgart (i) 04 Feb 96
7) 12:59.04 - 5000m - Stockholm (i) 20 Feb 97
8) 8:01.08 * - 2 miles - Hengelo 31 May 97
9) 26:31.32 - 10,000m - Oslo 04 Jul 97
10) 12:41.86 - 5000m - Zurich 13 Aug 97
11) 7:26.14 - 3000m - Karlsruhe (i) 25 Jan 98
12) 4:52.86 * - 2000m - Birmingham (i) 15 Feb 98
13) 26:22.75 - 10,000m - Hengelo 01 Jun 98
14) 12:39.36 - 5000m - Helsinki 13 Jun 98
15) 12:50.38 - 5000m - Birmingham (i) 14 Feb 99
16) 27:02 - 10km - Doha 11 Dec 02
17) 8:04.69 * - 2 miles - Birmingham (i) 21 Feb 03
18) 41:22 ** - 15km - Tilburg 04 Sep 05
19) 44:23 * - 10 miles - Tilburg 04 Sep 05
20) 55:48*** - 20km - Tempe 15 Jan 06
21) 58:55*** - Half Marathon - Tempe 15 Jan 06
22) 1:11:37*** - 25km - Alphen aan den Rijn 12 Mar 06
(i) indoor venue
* not at an IAAF record event
** not officially timed
***pending ratification
