MELBOURNE, Nov 30: Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie burnt off his rivals for a commanding win in the Great Australian Run over 15 kilometres through the city streets here on Sunday.

Gebrselassie, 35, backed only by a few hours’ sleep and troubled by jetlag, broke away from Kenyan Patrick Makau with four kilometres to run and accelerated to win the inaugural event in 42 minutes and 40 seconds.

It was the two-time Olympic 10,000 metres champion and reigning marathon world record holder’s best time of the year over the distance, but over a minute outside Kenyan Felix Limo’s world record of 41:29.

Half-marathon specialist Makau trailed in 35 seconds behind Gebrselassie to take second in 43:15, with Australia’s Collis Birmingham beating Olympian Craig Mottram for third placing in 43:35.

Kenya’s two-time world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba easily won the the women’s event in 50:43. New Zealand’s Alice Mason was second in 51:27 and third-placed Lisa Weightman was the leading Australian in 51:31.—AFP