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Gebrselassie takes HBA Great Australian Run at a canter1 December 2008Haile Gebrselassie dominated the inaugural HBA Great Australian Run in Melbourne on Sunday winning the 15 kilometres road race in a time of 42 minutes 40 seconds. The 35-year-old Ethiopian finished 34 seconds ahead of Kenya's world half marathon silver medalist Patrick Makau with Australia's Olympic 5000 meter star representative Collis Birmingham, third in 43 minutes 35 seconds. Gebrselassie who broke away initially after three kilometres alongside Craig Mottram and Makau, first dropped the Aussie who was racing over-distance and finally Makau after 11km. However, Gebrselassie despite the excellent conditions and tough challenge from Makau, expressed disappointment that he didn't achieve a 27th world record or best performance, when falling short of Felix Limo's seven-year-old mark of 41 minutes 29 seconds. "It was not easy really," said the world marathon record holder. "The course is not so bad, the only problem was that I could not sleep the last two days because of the time-difference and jet lag. Praising his Kenyan opponent who offered a determined challenge and not wanting a sprint finish, he added: "I didn't expect Makau to be running like that. "After 11km I decided just to drop him, otherwise it was dangerous to bring him up to the last kilometre. "I expected to run a fast time, however when I started in the morning I didn't feel so good because of the lack of sleep. I should have come five or six days ago, that was a mistake." Kenya's Catherine Ndereba claimed the women's title coasting home well clear of Alice Mason and Lisa Weightman in a time of 50 minutes 43 seconds. Mason from New Zealand clocked 51 minutes 27 seconds behind the world marathon champion with the host nation's Weightman also an endurance specialist, just four seconds behind. After Japan's Kaori Yoshida pushed the pace early, Ndereba made a winning break after 7 kilometers leaving her rivals, which included former world cross country champion Benita Johnson, to fight for the minor positions. "I was trying so hard to just keep my pace," said the Olympic marathon silver medalist. "It was only some weeks ago that I did my last marathon."I was just looking to pace myself and I thank God, because my plan worked so well." Romania's Constantina Dita who defeated Ndereba for Olympic gold in Beijing was sixth in 52 minutes 33 seconds. ResultsMen
Women
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