(22/05/2005)

Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie has shattered the United Kingdom all-comers 10km record at the BUPA Great Manchester Run.

The four-times world champion in the 10,000 metres and world 10 km record holder in 27.02 minutes, broke away from the field at the halfway point coming home in 27.25 minutes - the fastest time in the world in 2005.

Gebrselassie, 32, shaved off 14 seconds from the previous UK best set by Kenyan Felix Limo in Swansea in 2002.

He finished ahead of Spaniard Juan Carlos de la Ossa second in 27.55 minutes and third placed Ukrainian Sergiy Lebid, who ran a national record and lifetime best of 28.14 minutes.

An elated Gebrselassie said after the race: "I could have run under 27 minutes if there had been pacemakers.

"I was a little bit worried about the weather and the possibility of the wind getting up.

Gebrselassie, recently honoured with a doctorate degree in Law by the National University of Ireland, have plans to stop running the track to focus fully on the marathon distances.

"As for the marathon, I can run two hours four minutes. I will have to if I want to break the world record," he declared.

In the women's race, Kenya- born Lornah Kiplagat, now representing The Netherlands, claimed the title with the fastest time on British soil this year of 31.28 minutes.

Jelena Trokopcuka was second in a Latvian national record of 31.35 minutes while Kiplagat's cousin Hilda Kibet earned third place for Kenya in 31.46 minutes.

Results

1. H Gebrselassie (Eth) 27:25 (UK-All-Comers' record)
2 .J-C de la Ossa (Esp) 27:55 (National record),
3. S Lebid (Ukr) 28:14 (National record),
4. W Taragon (Ken) 28:32,
5. C Davies (Telford) 28:37,
6. S Baldini (Ita) 28:53,
7. W Talel (Ken) 28:55,
8. A Gurkin (Rus) 28:58,
9. K Cullen (Highgate) 29:01,
10. J-M Martinez (Spa) 29:05,

• Women:

1. L Kiplagat (Ned) 31:28
2. J Prokopcuka (Lat) 31:35,
3. H Kibet (Ken) 31:46,
4. C Dale (Invicta) 32:51,
5. D Tulu (Eth) 32:53,
6. M McCambridge (Ire) 32:59,
7. M Yamauchi (Harrow) 33:08,
8. G Syrek (Pol) 33:40,
9. M Seboka (Eth) 34:11,
10. B Dagne (Belgrave) 34:29