Posted: July 13, 2006

Athletics: Gebrselassie's World Records Ratified by IAAF

Ethiopian Legend Set Two Marks at '06 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (July 12, 2006) -- Ethiopian running legend Haile Gebrselassie's two world records set at the Jan. 14, 2006 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ˝ Marathon have been ratified, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced. Gebrselassie shattered the world half marathon mark when he covered the 13.1-mile course in 58 minutes, 55 seconds. He also broke the 20- kilometer world mark when he passed thru that point in 55:48.

Gebrselassie erased 21 seconds off the half marathon time of 59:16 set by 18-year-old Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru in Sept., 2005. He lowered the 20km mark of 56:18 held by longtime rival Kenyan Paul Tergat set in 1998. It marked the 19th and 20th times the 32-year-old Gebrselassie has broken world records in his career. In a unique race held in conjunction with the annual P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ˝ Marathon, Gebrselassie ran the final half of the full marathon, providing him a point-to-point, IAAF-certified and record standard course.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion, Gebrselassie is universally regarded as one of history's greatest distance runners. His first gold medal came in the 10,000m at the 1996 Atlanta Games when he staged a furious sprint on the final lap to beat Tergat in an Olympic record time of 27:07.34. He successfully defended the title at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, again defeating Tergat, this time edging him on the final stride in what still stands as one of the most exciting finishes on the track in Olympic history. Gebrselassie is also a four-time world champion at 10,000-meters with titles in 1993, '95, '97 and '99.

The P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ˝ Marathon, part of the series of musical running events created by Elite Racing, will celebrate its fourth running on Jan. 14, 2007. Participants are treated to 60 live bands playing at every mile, 40 high school cheerleading squads providing extra motivation along the route, and a finish line festival at ASU. An evening concert at Tempe Town Lake caps the day’s festivities.

For more information or to register for the marathon or half marathon visit www.rnraz.com or contact P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona, 5452 Oberlin Dr., San Diego, CA 92121 or call 800.311.1255.

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