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News23 Sep 2001


Haile Gabrselassie wins Prague 10km road race

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Gebrselassie wins in Prague Grand Prix
Alfons Juck for the IAAF
23 September 2001 - Prague, Czech Republic - Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie showed excellent shape before the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships to be held in two weeks in Bristol. He won on Sunday in Prague in sunny weather the 10 km road race called the Mattoni Grand Prix. His winning time of 28:07 was a new course record, bettering the previous record held by Antonio Pinto (Portugal) by 9 seconds.

In the second half of the race which was staged in the magnificent old part of the Czech capital he was able clearly to pull away from all the other runners.

Some of the Kenyans tried to stay with him, but no chance. Even his dangerous kick in the last 200 metres was this time not needed.

“It was not an easy race, the course was tough with some parts run on cobblestones. But the atmosphere was excellent and I have now the feeling I'm in very good shape. My next race will be in Bristol and then I have one more road race. Next year I want to try the marathon, but I'm still not decided whether it will be London or Rotterdam.

"But I will not stop running on the track. Mainly I'm thinking I can still better my 10,000m world record,” he said after the race.

Results: 10 km - Men: 1. Gebrselassie, ETH 28:07 - course record, 2. Munyao, KEN 28:31, 3. Nizigama, BUR 28:34, 4. Vanko, SVK 28:56, 5. Benzine,ALG 29:03, 6. Mugi, KEN 29:13, 7. Osman,CRO 29:26, 8. Faschingbauer, CZE 29:28

5 km - Women: 1. Rakonczai, HUN 15:58, 2. M. Okayo, KEN 15:59

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