Date:18/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/18/stories/2008021859682200.htm

Sport - Athletics

Bekele sets new two-mile record

— Photo: AFP

YET ANOTHER RECORD: Kenesia Bekele shaved 0.34 seconds off Haile Gebrselassie’s mark in setting up the new two-mile record.

Birmingham: Ethiopia distance-running great Kenenisa Bekele added to his collection of notable landmarks by setting a new world-best performance mark in the two miles at the international indoor meeting here on Saturday.

The reigning Olympic 10,000m champion, on the same track where compatriot Haile Gebrselassie achieved the previous fastest time, shaved 0.34 seconds off his fellow Ethiopian’s mark when finishing in a time of 8:04.35 seconds.

Bekele, a second off the required pace to set a new world-best time at one stage, rallied with an especially quick final 200m. Bekele has now captured three indoor marks owned by Gebrselassie — all at the same venue.

“It was not easy but I knew I could do it,” said Bekele, who was chased for most of the race by Kenya’s Paul Koech but produced a fast final lap to run away from the field.

Bekele, who has broken Gebrselassie’s 2,000m and 5,000m indoor marks here, went close to breaking his countryman’s two-mile mark last year.Koech finished second in 8:06.48 and another Kenyan, Abraham Chebii, was a long way back third in 8:13.28. — Agencies