Benita Willis » Great Australian Run in Melbourne 2008 (3 of 3) [HQ]

Uploaded by Tribe Sites | November 30, -0001

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B726A4AA44EB5844 - Playlist with the other 2 parts plus pre-race build-up.

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MELBOURNE — Peerless Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie defied a serious case of jetlag to claim a commanding victory in the inaugural Great Australian Run on Sunday.

The two-time Olympic 10,000m champion and reigning marathon world record holder arrived in Melbourne from Addis Ababa on Friday morning and woke with a headache after only managing a couple of hours' sleep before the 15km road race.

Kenyan Patrick Makau stayed on Gebrselassie's shoulder for much of the race through Melbourne's inner southern suburbs, before the Ethiopian made his move at the 11km mark, going on to win in 42 minutes and 40 seconds.

Kenyan marathon star Catherine Ndereba was a commanding winner of the women's Great Australian Run on Sunday, running on her own for much of the way to clock a time of 50:43.

New Zealand's Alice Mason was second in 51:27 and third-placed Lisa Weightman was the leading Australian in 51:31.

Her better-credentialled countrywoman Benita Johnson was fifth in 52:09, one place ahead of reigning Beijing marathon champion Constantina Dita of Romania.

Ndereba had finished second behind Dita in Beijing, but she always looked the likely winner in Sunday's race.

Commentary is by Stuart Storey and narration by Katherine Merry.