• London Olympics 2012

Gebrselassie misses out on London 2012 ticket

ESPN staff
May 27, 2012
Haile Gebrselassie will not be competing at London 2012 © Getty Images
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Two-time 10,000m Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie's bid to reach London 2012 has ended after he finished seventh at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo.

Gebrselassie needed a top-two finish to qualify for this summer's Games but the 39-year-old could not keep pace with his fellow countryman, crossing the line in sixth among an Ethiopian contingent led by Tariku Bekele, who came home nearly nine seconds ahead of Gebrselassie.

Gebrselassie, who ran the race in 27 minutes 20.39 seconds, could be granted a wildcard, although the favourite to make the Olympics via that route is Bekele's brother Kenenisa - the 2004 and 2008 Olympic champion - so long as he can prove he is over his injury problems.

Gebrselassie, who has already missed out on a spot in the marathon for London 2012, said: "The Games in London is over for me. I ran a good race until the last lap. I felt good but I manifestly didn't have the speed to compete against my rivals. That's life. I am not disappointed."

Meanwhile, Britain's Phillips Idowu continued his Olympic preparations by winning the triple jump with a leap of 17.31m, and Hannah England won the women's 1500m in 4mins 4.05secs.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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