Haile Gebrselassie takes Berlin Marathon

Sep 24, 2006, 14:07 GMT

Berlin - Running legend Haile Gebrselassie from Ethiopia on Sunday came within 61 seconds of setting a new marathon world record when he won the Berlin Marathon.

Gebrselassie needed two hours five minutes and 56 seconds over the 42,195 kilometre-long course and missed Pault Tergat's world record by just over a minute. The Kenyan set the record in the 2003 Berlin Marathon.

'I had a chance to run a world record, but the last five kilometres were really sore and I could not go faster. It was too windy for a faster time.'

He will have taken some consolation for missing out on the world record by pocketing well over 300,000 Euros from the race. He is said to have received a 250,000 Euros appearance fee as well as the 80,000 Euros for winning and a further 30,000 Euros bonus for finishing under two hours six minutes and 30 seconds.

'I will still break the world record some time,' the Ethiopian promised.

His compatriot Dudisa Shentema Kudama took second place - nearly five minutes behind, while Japan's Kurao Umeki was third. It was the first time in nine years that a runner from Kenya has not won.

There was further success for Ethiopia in the women's race where Gete Wami won from Kenyan Salina Kosgei. Poland's Monica Drybulska was third.