Gebrselassie vows to break world marathon record

HAILE GEBRSELASSIE is confident he will eventually break the world marathon record despite failing to beat Paul Tergat’s mark while winning in Berlin on Sunday.

Flora London Marathon race director David Bedford has tipped Gebrselassie to break the record when competing in England’s capital next year.

Gebrselassie is already contracted to contest the world’s top event which — after two appearances in 2003 and last April — he has still to win finishing third and ninth.

After yesterday’s stunning run in Germany, Gebrselassie is determined to atone for those two defeats on his return to London and maintains that a world-record performance is a possibility.

“I will break the world record one day, I’m sure,” he said after lowering his Ethiopian record to two hours, five minutes and 56 seconds.

“It was okay, not bad. If I could break the world record, it would be fantastic, but this was fantastic too,” he said.

Gebrselassie, who finished in front of fellow Ethiopian Gudisa Shentema and Japan’s Kurao Umeki, added: “The temperature was fine, but the wind was a bit of a problem, it was coming from different directions. But it was fantastic.

“It’s true there was no one to push me.”

Bedford insists there will be plenty of serious rivals when Gebrselassie makes a third visit to the London race.

Bedford said: “Gebrselassie is contracted to run next year and we’re delighted to welcome him back. In the right conditions and with the right competition, it is clear he can break the world record — we’ve had those in the past.”

Gete Wami regained her Ethiopian record, winning the Berlin women’s race in two hours, 21 minutes and 34 seconds, ahead of Salina Kosgei and Monica Drybulska.

The Kenyan runner-up finished in a personal best 2:23.22 with the Pole, a long way back in third place, clocking 2:30.12.