MANCHESTER (England), May 18: Haile Gebrselassie’s presence in Sunday’s Great Manchester Run should lead to either a record-breaking time or a memorable race, organisers said on Wednesday. The Ethiopian distance great is up against Italy’s marathon gold medallist Stefano Baldini and five-time European cross-country champion Sergiy Lebid of Ukraine.

Granted favourable conditions, the 10-kilometre event’s athletics director Matthew Turnbull believes the trio can challenge the course record of 27 minutes 54 seconds set last year by Craig Mottram.

“It’s a fast, flat course and (the record is) well within the capabilities of all three of them,” said Turnbull. “Haile at his best should slaughter it.”

Gebrselassie ran 27 minutes and two seconds in a road race in Doha in December 2002, setting the current world record.

“But races are funny things,” added Turnbull. “It could be a tactical affair and slow, as we have no intention of providing pacemakers.

“An exciting race is more important to us than a runner chasing records helped by a hare. However if it is competitive, I’m sure a fast time will emerge,” he added.

The fastest time on British soil this year, Juan Carlos de la Ossa’s 28:22, could be under threat.

The Spaniard achieved the mark when winning Manchester’s sister race in Edinburgh 10 days ago — and the Spaniard will compete on Sunday.

“Don’t rule him out of challenging for the title,” Turnbull said. “Edinburgh was a very tough course, so it is almost certain he will run faster.”—AFP