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 Ethiopian Gebrselassie, a multiple Olympic and world champion
over 10,000 meters as well as a former marathon world record holder,
will pace the first 30 km at world-record speed at the April 13
event, five days short of his 41st birthday.
A strong field will include Britain's double Olympic and world
champion distance runner Mo Farah, marathon world record holder
Wilson Kipsang and fellow Kenyan and London course record holder
Emmanuel Mutai. Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich of
Uganda and London champion Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia will also
compete.
"Haile is an icon of distance running, a man who has broken 27 world
records on the track and road during his long and brilliant career,
and we can't think of anyone better to set our elite men up for a
crack at the world marathon record," race organizer Hugh Brasher
said in a statement.
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"Everyone knows how difficult it is to break the world record on
London's course, especially with such a competitive field, but with
Haile pacing and four of the fastest marathon runners in history in
the race, there's a real chance we will see something special."
Gebrselassie ran the London Marathon three times, coming third in
2002.
(Reporting by Josh Reich; editing by Clare Lovell)
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