• Bupa Great Manchester Run

Gebrselassie victory delivers warning to Farah

ESPN staff
May 20, 2012
Haile Gebrselassie won the Bupa Great Manchester Run for a fifth time © Getty Images
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Haile Gebrselassie sent out a warning to Great Britain's Mo Farah ahead of the London 2012 Games, insisting he can go under 27 minutes after winning the Bupa Great Manchester Run on Sunday.

Gebrselassie, who at 39 years of age was widely considered to be past his best, ran the fastest 10-kilometre time of the year to spell out his threat heading into the Olympics. The veteran is yet to have his place confirmed for the summer Games, but on Sunday's showing he stands a substantial chance of taking gold in London.

A time of 27 minutes 39 seconds saw him win the Manchester event for a fifth time. Now he must prove himself at the Ethiopian Olympic trials in Hengelo next week, but Gebrselassie insists he will break the 27-minute barrier if he gets to London.

"I am so happy today, everything was perfect," he said. "I am not surprised to run that fast. I wanted to run under 27 minutes.

"According to my training this year, I feel I can run faster on the track. I want to go under 27 minutes, that's what I am thinking. If I run this fast on the road, why not on the track?

"The top three in Hengelo go to the Olympics, that's what the federation said. At the moment if I get in the top three I go. My question is, what is the possibility in London? We'll see."

Britain's Charlotte Purdue claimed fourth in the women's race, which was won by Kenya's Linet Masai in a time of 31 minutes 35 seconds. Purdue clocked 32:13, while Mara Yamauchi was sixth in 32:28.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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