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News15 Feb 1999


Gebrselassie does it again in Birmingham

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Gebrselassie does it again it Birmingham

Michael Butcher in Birmingham for the IAAF

Birmingham suits Haile Gebrselassie. For the second time in two years the tiny Ethiopian with the giant stride demolished a world record at the BUPA Indoor Grand Prix with a pulsating display over 5000m in 12: 50.38. In an afternoon of tit-for-tat warfare between himself and Kenyan Daniel Komen who was trying for the Ethiopian’s 2000m record, it was Gebrselassie who won the day, Komen failing to reciprocate. But at one stage it looked as though the Ethiopian might also fall short. With just a kilometre to go he was still two seconds down on schedule and it looked as though there was to be another disappointment for a full-house that had already witnessed Komen and Maria Mutola in the 800m fail to set new marks.

Gebrselassie, however, had other ideas. Visibly charging his batteries he sprinted round the final laps to break the beam to a deafening roar from the hundreds of fellow countrymen who had made the journey from London’s Ethiopian community.

That was not before there was a near disaster on the final bend when three backmarkers barred his way: "I was very scared," said Gebrselassie. "They were occupying all three lanes. I didn’t think I would get the record." The Olympic 10,000m champion braked, but a gap magically opened and he was through and away. (Splits;2:34; 5:08.97; 7:46.37; 10:21.72: 12:50.38)

Relaxed after his exploit, Gebrselassie joked: "I have been here twice and set two world records. I am afraid that if I come back next year the people will expect me to set another record."

Though that was tongue in cheek, he admits to a genuine problem of motivation. With Olympic and world titles under his belt and 15 world records including world bests, what is left for Neftenga (the Boss), as he is known, to achieve? "I don’t know what else I can do," he mused with a broad grin.

But that does not mean that he is hanging up his spikes. Far from it. The immediate target is Maebashi as well as Komen’s 3000m record which he just missed in Karlsruhe. The outdoor world championships in Seville will see him only contesting the 10,000m because of the heat which probably means he and Komen are destined not to meet this year either. Despite bringing his own pacemakers, the Kenyan was not up to the task of getting near his arch rival’s time over 2000m set on this track last year. Barcelona Olympic 800m champion William Tanui took the field through the halfway mark well inside record pace with 2:23.62 but Komen was always some five metres adrift and never looked like closing the gap let alone taking the initiative.

The race was won by fellow Kenyan Laban Rotich in 4:56.09, a personal best by three and a half seconds but still more than three seconds slower than the record. Komen trailed in fourth, seven seconds shy of Gebrselassie’s mark.

It is six years since triple Olympic champion Gail Devers’ last visit to Birmingham and though she arrived only the day before after a mix-up over tickets she may well consider returning. Against a quality line-up she was never headed and pulled away powerfully to win in 7.04. There was some equally fine sprinting in the men’s race with Nigerian Deji Aliu running himself into the favourite slot for Maebashi with a personal best 6.50. Britain’s Jason Gardner confirmed he will be looking for an upset in Japan by also setting a lifetime best only 0.02 down on Aliu. In the field there were some excellent performances. The women’s pole vault saw a rare tussle between Germany’s Nicole Humbert and Hungary’s Zsuzsa Szabo. Humbert finally prevailed at 4.39m but was unsuccessful at a new world record height.

In the women’s triple jump both Sarka Kasparkova of the Czech Republic and Britain’s Ashia Hansen jumped 14.76m but the Czech Olympic champion got the decision with a superior second jump.

Hurdles world record holder Colin Jackson is beginning to believe that Gods or the starters are against him. After what seemed another false start after two recalls, the field kept going with the Welshman just failing to catch American Duane Ross, who set a season’s best of 7.48.

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