Gebrselassie returns for spring NYC Half-Marathon

NEW YORK (AP) — Haile Gebrselassie will run in the first NYC Half-Marathon held in the spring.
The New York Road Runners announced Wednesday that the marathon world record-holder will compete on March 21.

He set a course record of 59 minutes, 24 seconds in his NYC Half-Marathon debut in 2007.

Gebrselassie says he got "such a warm welcome" in New York City when he ran that he wanted to return. The NYC Half-Marathon had been held in the summer since it began in 2006.

The Ethiopian has won nine of 10 career 13.1-mile races, including a then-world record 58 minutes, 55 seconds in 2006 in Tempe, Ariz.

On Friday, he'll defend his title at the Dubai Marathon.