Posted: January 21, 2005

Athletics: Gebrselassie May Join London Marathon Field

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

Subject to a fitness test at a half-marathon on January 30, Haile Gebrselassie said today that he may join the line-up for the Flora London Marathon on April 17.

"This would be a massive bonus for London," said Race Director David Bedford. "Haile never gives less than 100 percent and we hope he comes through the half marathon test with flying colors."

If he joins the field, the Ethiopian who set 18 world records in his career, would face one of the finest marathon fields ever assembled. World record holder Paul Tergat, Olympic champion Stefano Baldini, World champion Jaouad Gharib and defending champion Evans Rutto are all slated to compete.

The 2005 race would be Gebrselassie's second appearance in London. In 2002, he made his senior debut in the race, finishing third in 2:06:35 behind Khalid Khannouchi and Tergat, who, at the time, clocked the two fastest performances ever.

Gebrselassie will annouce his decision at a press conference in London on Monday, January 31.