Gebrselassie fails to break hour record

(GETTY IMAGES)

Haile Gebrselassie failed to break his own one-hour world record yesterday, falling 463m short of his previous best at a meet at Hengelo in the Netherlands. Gebrselassie ran 21.285km (12.77 miles) in an hour at the IAAF Grand Prix Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic two years ago.

Yesterday, the 36-year-old Ethiopian, who has set 25 world records in his career, was hampered by strong winds and a short rain spell at the FBK Games. "It's a strange day today," Gebrselassie said. "It's a sunny day so I didn't expect the rain. I really wanted to break the record for the people."

Gebrselassie, who broke four world records at previous Hengelo meets, said he intends to run the marathon at the 2012 London Olympics.

LaVerne Jones of the US Virgin Islands won the women's 100m in 11.13 seconds while Britain's Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu was second in the 200m, losing to Jones, who won in 22.46. Britain's Joice Maduaka finished third.