Ethiopia's and World's greatest distance runner Haile Gebrselassie stormed to his third BUPA Great Manchester Run triumph on Sunday but a strong wind restricted him to a time of 28 minutes and two seconds.
The 37-year-old, twice Olympic and four-times World Gold medalist, finished just over a minute behind the world record and more than half a minute outside Micah Kogo's UK All-Comers record.
Spaniard Ayad Lamdessem, a former Moroccan, pushed hard until the last stretch to get second in 28 minutes and nine seconds and Ukrainian Sergiy Lebid settled for third in 28 minutes and twenty-nine seconds.
Despite the awkward weather conditions, Gebrselassie was delighted and even midly surprised to have won.
"When I warmed up, it was cold. I didn't feel good and it was very tough and windy," said Haile.
"But the atmosphere was fantastic. It's always a great event. I thought I might have gone much faster but the conditions weren't helping me. But this was an important win and I feel there is more to come in the future."
Ethiopian Worknesh Kidane, in her first international 10 kilometres race, won in a fast and personal best time of 31 minutes and 19 seconds over the flat and fast course.
Kidane, who broke away just after halfway, easily won ahead of Jessica Augusto and Ines Monteiro, but the pair of Portugese stars were also rewarded with lifetime bests of 31 minutes and 47 seconds and 32 minutes and two seconds respectively.
Selected Results
Men
- Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) 00:28:02
- Ayad Lamdassem (Spain) 00:28:09
- Sergiy Lebid (Ukraine) 00:28:29
Women
- Werkenesh Kidane (Ethiopia) 00:31:19
- Jessica Augusto (Portugal) 00:31:47
- Ines Monteiro (Portugal) 00:32:02