ETHIOPIAN RUNNING LEGEND Haile Gebrselassie will this weekend attempt to qualify for the 10,000m at the London Olympics, running in his preferred distance in Hengelo, the Netherlands.
The race on Sunday is being used by the African distance running powerhouse as a qualifier for the Games and will see Gebrselassie — a double Olympic gold medallist at the distance in 1996 and 2000 — race against 12 of his countrymen.
They include Sileshi Sihine, Imane Merga and Gebre Gebremariam, who have all gone under 27 minutes for the 10km.
Former marathon world record holder Gebrselassie, who has not been picked for the Ethiopia team over 26.2 miles (42.195km), is trying to make what would be his fifth Olympics at the age of 39.
The four-times World 10,000m champion is on form, having won the 10km Great Manchester Run in northwest England last week in 27min 39secs.
“I thought I could have run faster but I didn’t push it. I’m happy with my form. It’s good enough to run 26min on the track,” he said.
The men’s 10,000m is the highlight of the weekend’s meeting although South Africa’s double-amputee Oscar Pistorius will be the main attraction in the 400m.