Hengelo path to Beijing for Gebrselasssie – IAAF World Athletics Tour

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – World marathon record holder and two-time Olympic and four-time World 10,000m champion Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia today (12) announced that he intends to compete in the 2008 FBK Thales Games - IAAF World Athletics Tour - in Hengelo, the Netherlands on 24 May in his bid to make Ethiopia’s 10,000m team for the Beijing Olympics in China.

The FBK Thales Games is an IAAF Grand Prix status meeting as part of the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Tour.

The 34-year-old, who on Monday announced that he will step down from the road distance to return to the track over the 10,000m, will face a strong challenge to earn one of three qualification spots on his country’s Olympic team.

“I would not have made the decision if I was not confident of my ability… I am going to compete in Beijing,” confirmed Gebrselassie who has recently increased his track preparations to his road regimen.

In addition to reigning Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele and silver medallist Sileshi Sihine, Gebrselassie will be facing a battle against a host of up and coming young runners including All-African Games 10,000m silver medallist Tadesse Tola and Abebe Dinkessa, a runner with a 10,000m personal best of 26:30.

Unlike his early track days, Gebrselassie has no record plans in Hengelo, but says he has ambitions for a fast time. “I want to run as fast as possible. I want to compete in Beijing. That is very important to me.”

Gebrselassie’s manager Jos Hermens reiterated the reasons for Haile opting for the 10,000m in Beijing rather than the marathon:

“The decision was taken due to a combination of factors including heat and humidity. With the exception of Sydney 2000 there has not been an Olympic Games since Moscow 1980 when conditions have not been extreme for distance runners.”

“Look at the medallists from all those Games and you’ll see maost never came back again to their top level.”

“Haile has two goals. He wants to be Olympic marathon champion but he also wants to be the first man to run 2hrs and 3 minutes for the distance, and if he ran the marathon in Beijing he might never come back to the same level like so many other runners from past Games.”

"Carlos Lopes was 37 when he won the Olympic title, so why couldn’t Haile realistically also be able to win in London when he will have just turned 39,” concluded Hermens.