Kenenisa Breaks Haile's Record

Bekele sets 2-mile indoor record
The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 02/16/2008 10:06:19 AM MST

BIRMINGHAM, England—Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia set the world record for the indoor 2 miles Saturday, breaking the mark that had been held for five years by countryman Haile Gebrselassie.
He was timed in 8 minutes, 4.35 seconds at the Norwich Union Grand Prix, reducing the record by 0.34 seconds. Gebrselassie's record of 8:04.69 was set at the same National Indoor Arena in February 2003.
"It was not easy but I knew I could do it," said Bekele, who was chased for most of the race by Kenya's Paul Koech but produced a fast final lap to run away from the field. "Paul Koech was very close, but I knew I had a fast finish in me."
Koech finished second in 8:06.48 and Kenya's Abraham Chebii was a distant third in 8:13.28.
Bekele has broken Gebrselassie's 2,000 and 5,000 indoor marks in Birmingham. He was close to breaking Gebrselassie's 2-mile mark last year.
"It is great here in Birmingham and it helped me with the fast time today," said Bekele, who earned $30,000 for beating the mark.