Haile Gebrselassie wins Almería Half Marathon in 61:46 (© Carlos Barba)
Two of Ethiopia’s greatest athletes of the last decade Haile Gebrselassie and Gezahegne Abera have pulled out of the Flora London Marathon (17 April 2005) it was announced today.
Former quadruple World and twice Olympic 10,000m champion Gebrselassie recently developed tendonitis in his left Achilles tendon. The problem has now cleared, but the four-time World champion felt it would be irresponsible to compete after the subsequent interruption to his training.
“I am really sorry to take this decision,” said Gebrselassie. “Firstly because I was really keen on running a marathon again, secondly because I am missing the opportunity of running in the greatest marathon field ever assembled in a city-marathon. As I have a three year contract with London I hope to come in 2006 to achieve what I was planning for this year's edition of the Flora London Marathon.”
Despite recovering well after tendon surgery in the autumn, Abera the 2000 Olympic and 2001 World Marathon champion has also been forced to postpone his return. “I regret that I must withdraw from this year's London Marathon,” said Abera. “After not being able to defend my Olympic title, I was looking forward to London as the next best thing. I have recovered from my Achilles surgery from last Fall and have been training well, but at this moment I am not at the level it takes to compete in London.”
“It is a sign of the quality of the field we have that athletes of the calibre of Haile and Gezahegne felt they should err on the side of caution if they are to take on the event’s hottest properties right now,” commented Race Director David Bedford.
The field boasts a triple header of Kenyan talent in the World’s fastest ever, Paul Tergat, the second fastest in history, Sammy Korir, and the fastest ever debutant, Evans Rutto.
Olympic champion Stefano Baldini (ITA), World champion Jaouad Gharib (MAR), ING New York City Marathon champion Hendrik Ramaala (RSA), two-time Flora London Marathon champion Abdelkader el Mouaziz (MAR), and two more fast Kenyans, Daniel Njenga and Joseph Ngolepus, will ensure a quality race.
Gebrselassie made his Marathon debut in London in 2002, posting one of the fastest ever times for a novice over the distance of 2:06:35. In London 2003 Abera edged out the new Olympic champion Baldini in one of the most thrilling finishes to a Marathon ever witnessed.
