News Archive

News Archive

Haile Gebrselassie returns to real,- BERLIN-MARATHON

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Haile Gebrselassie, the defending champion, will return to the

34th real,- BERLIN-MARATHON. The signing of the exceptional Ethiopian

runner was announced by Race Director Mark Milde. Last year Haile Gebrselassie

won the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON in the fastest time of the year of 2:05:56 hours.

The most spectacular German road race will be held on September 30th with up to 40,000 runners. The race belongs to the World Marathon Majors

(WMM).

 

<p">„With Haile Gebrselassie we have signed one of the best runners of all

times. We are delighted that after his impressive performance last year Haile

has again chosen the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON for his fall marathon race,“ said

Mark Milde.

<p">Haile Gebrselassie dominated long distance track running for years. He

was 10,000 m Olympic Champion twice (1996 and 2000). At World Championships he

won a gold medal at 10,000 m four times in a row (1993, 1995, 1997, 1999). The

34 year-old set 21 world records in his career so far. At the Olympic Games in

Athens 2004 he had to be content with fifth place in the 10,000 m final due to

an injury. After that Haile Gebrselassie decided to concentrate on road running,

especially on the marathon. The highlight of his marathon career so far was his

victory in Berlin in 2006. Clocking 2:05:56 hours he became the fifth fastest

marathon runner of all times. He missed the world record of his big rival Paul

Tergat by just 61 seconds. The Kenyan had triumphed with 2:04:55 in Berlin in

2003.

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After Haile Gebrselassie had to give up in the Flora London Marathon in

April due to breathing problems, he can now collect the first WMM points for the

2007-2008 series in Berlin. The best marathoners of the world are competing at

the World Marathon Majors, collecting points over a two years’ cycle. The

winners’ prize purse is one million Dollar, which will be split between the best

male and female runners.

<p">The real,- BERLIN-MARATHON has 35,000 registrations so far. That means

that only 5.000 bibs are left. As last year the limit is set at 40,000 runners. 

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