Ethiopian Journal

NEW YORK, March 20 — Ethiopia would soon challenge Kenya for supremacy in the men’s marathon, though it would take 25 years before someone broke two hours for the distance, world record holder Haile Gebrselassie said yesterday. Gebrselassie, who has broken 26 world records in his running career and is the current marathon record holder on two hours, three minutes, 59 seconds, also smiled and replied “soon” when asked if someone would run 2:02 for the distance.

However he added it would probably take 25 years before someone breaks the two-hour barrier.

The 36-year-old, who had previously said he would like to attempt to win gold in the marathon in 2012 London Olympics, also said he was still uncertain on how long he would keep running.

“Once you state it, you’ve stopped,” he told a small group of reporters in New York ahead of tomorrow’s NYC Half-Marathon. “Sport is something that doesn’t know your age.”

Even though he has branched out into business ventures, including building a hotel in Ethiopia, and serves on an advisory board tackling domestic issues, he remains dedicated to his sport.

“A day without training is like a day without eating,” said Gebrselassie, who trains twice a day, six days a week with a single morning session on the seventh day.

Gebrselassie was not shy about predicting the rise of Ethiopians on the world marathon stage and said it would not be long before they would challenge Kenyans for supremacy.

“We are competing with the Kenyans now. The Kenyans were big but we are coming,” he said.

“The next two or three years you will see. The Kenyans have dominated the marathon. Soon it will be 50-50, at least.”

Though Gebrselassie has focused on road racing since the 2004 Olympics, he has not ruled out further assaults on track records.

“Only for an hour at least at a time,” he said, ruling out a return to the 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres he once dominated, and said he might go after long-standing marks for 25K and 30K. — Reuters