Haile says farewell to 10,000m

Gebrsalassie will be hoping to follow in Bikila's footsteps

Athletics great Haile Gebrselassie will run his last 10,000m race at the World Championships in Edmonton this year.

The Ethiopian, who has not raced since winning gold over the distance at the Sydney Olympics because of injuries, will concentrate on the marathon after the August event.

"Haile, the Olympic and world record holder in the 10,000 metres, will participate in this event for the last time in Edmonton," said Haile's coach Woldemeskel Kostire.

"He will then concentrate and will undergo rigorous training to prepare himself for a marathon event, evoking the memory of the legendary Abebe Bikila."

Bikila won the Olympic marathon event twice, the first time in Rome in 1960 running barefoot and then in Tokyo in 1964.