| In 1994 Haile Gebrselassie, already a world champion (10,000m in
Stuttgart), added another title to his name, that of World Record
Holder. In Hengelo on June 4th he beat Said Aouita's 1987 record of
12min. 58.39secs. when he became only the second man to break the 13
minute barrier with his time of 12min. 56.96secs. That performance
naturally ranked him No.1 on the 5000m. list that year although he again
failed to top the 10, 000m. lists with his season best of 27min.
15.00secs. in Lausanne on July 6th. William Sigei of Kenya took that
honour with his world record of 26min. 52.23secs. on July 22nd in Oslo.
Haile actually got beaten twice over 5000m. during the season finishing
fourth in London behind a trio of Kenyans lead by Sigei. At the age of
21 he was still learning his trade. He avenged that defeat by Sigei
the next year by replacing him as the world record holder over 10, 000m.
with his 26min. 43.53secs run in Hengelo on 5th June. However, by then
his world 5000m record had fallen to Moses Kipanui (12min. 55.30secs).
What mattered most was the World Championships in Gothenburg and the
defence of his title. It took the customary course of events for the
great Ethiopian with a stunning final lap to see off the pretenders to
his crown, who at that stage were Hissou, Skal and Terget. His last
200m. took just 25.1secs and his winning time of 27min. 12.95secs was a
new CBP, but there was more business ahead, his world 5000m. record
needed regaining. At Zurich on August 16th he achieved this in
spectacular fashion. He carved an incredible 10.91secs. from Kiptanui's
time with a new world record of 12min. 44.39secs. That year no one
topped him in any ranking lists. (George Herringshaw) |