November 21st, 2008

FASTEST TIME AWARD FOR DUBAI-BOUND MARATHON MAN GEBRSELASSIE

– Haile Targets Another AIMS crown at 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon –
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia): In the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, running legend Haile Gebrselassie has been awarded the Association of International Marathons and Road Races (AIMS)/CITIZEN World Fastest Time Award in recognition of his latest marathon world record.

For Gebrselassie, who is in training for the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, it is the second year in succession he has won the award for breaking the marathon world record – another remarkable achievement by the man considered the greatest distance runner of all time. The AIMS/CITIZEN World Fastest Time Award is made to any runner who breaks the world record in the marathon or half marathon.

In Gebrselassie’s home city to see ‘Geb’ collect the award from AIMS’ Secretary Hugh Jones was a delegation from the US$2 million Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, including Event Director Peter Connerton and Event Co-ordinator Ahmed Al Kamali

In January this year, Gebrselassie narrowly missed out on breaking his own world record when he made his marathon debut in Dubai yet still managed to set the second fastest time in history before going on to set a new world best of 2h:03m:59s in Berlin in September.

“It would be wonderful to win another of these trophies in 2009,” said Gebrselassie, before jetting off to Melbourne where he will compete in a 15km race on Sunday (Nov 30) in his last run before Dubai. “Of course, to do that I need to set a new world record but I hope and believe I can do that when I compete again in Dubai in January.”

The country’s most famous athlete took time out to collect the award at the 8th Toyota Great Ethiopian Run – a 10km road race hosted and organized by Gebrselassie, which will saw some 32,000 runners take to the streets of Addis Ababa.

Runners around the world looking to sign up and run alongside Gebrselassie in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on January 16, 2009 – or compete in the associated 10km and 3km runs – can register on-line at www.dubaimarathon.org or visit any branch of Fitness First. Entries close on December 15, 2008.

IMAGE: AIMS’ Secretary Hugh Jones presents Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie with the AIMS/CITIZEN World Fastest Time Award in Addis Ababa.