Athletics: HAILE HOMES IN ON DREAM RUN.Byline: Skills John CROSS DOUBLE Olympic champ Haile Gebrselassie Haile Gebrselassie (Ge'ez: ኃይሌ ገብረ ሥላሴ, haylē gebre silassē; born April 18, 1973) is an Ethiopian long distance track and road running athlete. , the world's greatest ever distance runner distance runner n. A runner who competes in distance races. , will take part in the biggest race of his life tomorrow. Gebrselassie, 28, has helped organise the Great Ethiopian Race in Addis Ababa Addis Ababa (ăd`ĭs ăb`əbə) [Amharic,=new flower], city (1994 pop. 2,112,737), capital of Ethiopia. It is situated at c.8,000 ft (2,440 m) on a well-watered plateau surrounded by hills and mountains. to help raise the profile of his own poverty- stricken country. It is the first ever major 10,000 metres international race staged in Ethiopia and Gebrselassie is determined to win gold to complete one of the proudest days of his glittering glit·ter n. 1. A sparkling or glistening light. 2. Brilliant or showy, often superficial attractiveness. 3. Small pieces of light-reflecting decorative material. intr.v. career. Gebrselassie said: "Having a race of this stature here is something I have dreamed about for years. "We have had other events but never on a scale like this. Having been involved in its organisation has distracted me and it will be a tough one to win. "I want people to come and see what our country is all about. I also want to show my people for the first time what a top international race is. "It is important for people to come and watch and celebrate Ethiopian success." World record holder Gebrselassie has already ruled out the possibility of breaking the world best altitude performance of 27.52mins because the race is being held at 7,500m above sea level. But the strong field of Ethiopian Million Wolde, 20-year-old Stephen Japala and Mexico's German Silva will guarantee a competitive race which also includes Ingrid Kristiansen Ingrid Kristiansen née Christensen (born March 21, 1956 in Trondheim, Norway), was one of the best female long distance runners in the second half of the 1980s. She finished in fourth place in the first ever Olympic marathon race, at the 1984 Summer Olympics. . Gebrselassie said: "If this race was on the track the quality of athletes taking part would resemble an Olympic final. A new record will be impossible, but I think the winning time will be 28 minutes something or other. "There is one big uphill stretch and it is a very long one. But the competition will still be very serious and it will be tough for everyone taking part. "This one is also very important to me. I have achieved an ambition by getting a race of this quality finally staged in Ethiopia. "But if I do succeed, the winner's medal will mean just as much to me as all of the others." Gebrselassie also paid tribute to former British star, Brendan Foster Brendan Foster, MBE (born 12 January, 1948 in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, England) is a British former distance runner, and the founder of the Great North Run. He was educated at St Joseph's Grammar School, the University of Sussex and Carnegie College of Physical Education, now part the 1976 Olympic 10,000 metres bronze medallist, for helping to organise the race. Foster, whose company Nova International also organises the Great North Run, is underwriting Underwriting 1. The process by which investment bankers raise investment capital from investors on behalf of corporations and governments that are issuing securities (both equity and debt). 2. The process of issuing insurance policies. the race for the first three years and hopes it will become a major international event. Foster said: "I have admired Ethiopian runners since 1960 when I watched Abebe Bikila Abebe Bikila (August 7, 1932 – October 25, 1973) was a two-time Olympic marathon champion from Ethiopia. A stadium in Addis Ababa is named in his honor. [1] Background 1932 – 1959 win the Olympic marathon. "In the past they have had to come out of Ethiopia to display their skills. "Now, with the introduction of this world class event star athletes are flying in from around the world helping Haile achieve his ambition of staging a major road race in his homeland." CAPTION(S): MISSION: Gebrselassie runs in Ethiopia |
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