34-year-old Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia set a world best for the marathon, running 2:04:26 in ideal conditions at the Berlin Marathon Sept. 30th. Geb's time hacks 29 seconds off the previous world best (2:04:55 by Paul Tergat) and adds to the legend of perhaps the greatest long-distance runner the world has ever seen.
In setting the record, Geb averaged 4:45 per mile. That's 105 x 400m in 71 with no rest. He ran the first half marathon in 1:02:29 and picking it up in the second half. His 35th kilometer was the fastest of the race at 2:50.
Another result, perhaps even more amazing as it came more unexpectedly, Kara Goucher beat marathon world record holder Paula Radcliff at the Great North half-marathon in Tyneside, UK. Goucher's time was 66:57, 37 seconds seconds faster than Deena Drossin's American Record (Goucher's run will not count for record considerations, since the Great North Run is slightly downhill). Goucher also recorded splits at 15K, 10M, and 20K that were faster than any American woman has ever run.
The Osaka 10K bronze medalist has now beaten Deena Drossin and Paula Radcliffe within the space of five weeks, and has, arguably, taken over the mantle of the U.S.' best female distance runner.
1 comment:
Not to take anything away from Kara G. (she is running amazingly well), but Paula R. is returning from the birth of her child. My guess is she is not all of the way back yet.
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