(30/01/2005)

Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie has bounced back to winning ways, after clinching the ‘8th Media Marathón de Almería' in Spain.

The former four-time World and double Olympic 10,000m champion finished in a course record of 61:46, ahead of second and third placed Kenyans Alex Kirui (62:53) and Abraham Aiyabei (64:57).

Gebrselassie pace and strength was more than his younger rivals could cope with and there was no signs of the achilles problem that had seen him on the operating table in recent months.

Gebrselassie told journalists after his first race since his fifth-place finish at the Athens 10,000m Olympic final that he has recovered fully from his injuries.

"I felt really good throughout the race and decided to run comfortably in the first half; then I pulled away to secure the win."