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Is Gebrselassie Up For The Challenge?

  • By Duncan Larkin
  • Published Oct. 29, 2010
  • Updated Sep. 12, 2012 at 12:56 PM UTC
  • Haile Gebrselassie faces a tough course in New York. Photo: Photrun.net
  • Haile Gebrselassie faces a tough course in New York. Photo: Photrun.net

Haile Gebrselassie faces a tough course--and tough competition--in New York. Photo: Photrun.net

A challenging course and a tough field might not make it easy for the world’s fastest marathoner.

Haile Gebrselassie is known for chasing fast times on pancake-flat courses. The ING New York City Marathon is neither fast nor flat, which makes the Ethiopian’s debut in New York a subject worthy of speculation. The New York Times recently profiled Gebreselassie’s prospects in the Big Apple.

“At the end of the day, people want to see how fast you run,” Gebrselassie said.

Gebrselassie’s penchant for chasing records and time bonuses has drawn criticism from his rivals.

“I have a lot of respect for him, but he never faces anyone,” Federico Rosa, manager of 2008 Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru, said of Gebrselassie. “He doesn’t like to face other strong athletes. When he does, he has trouble.”

For More: NYTimes.com

FILED UNDER: New York City Marathon / News / NYC Marathon News TAGS: / / / /

Duncan Larkin

Duncan Larkin

Duncan Larkin is the news editor at Competitor.com and a freelance journalist who’s been covering the sport of running for over five years. He’s run 2:32 in the marathon and won the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race in 2007. His first running book, RUN SIMPLE, was released last July.