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 The 19-year-old eased clear of the field over the final six
kilometers and crossed the line in two hours, 12 minutes and 27
seconds to claim a first world championships gold medal for his
country.
"I cannot explain what I am feeling, I am so happy," he told
reporters.
"I am so proud of this victory. My medal is the first gold medal in
Eritrean history. It is a very special thing for our history.
"My parents wanted me to be a great student but I wanted to be a
great athlete. Today's victory will be a great surprise to them."
Ethiopian Yemane Tsegay, who led briefly before Ghebreselassie's
final surge, finished 40 seconds behind the Eritrean in second
place, while Uganda's Solomon Mutai claimed bronze in 2.13.29.
Ruggero Pertile of Italy, who led for much of the middle part of the
race, finished fourth, while Uganda's Olympic champion Stephen
Kiprotich gave up the world title he won two years ago from sixth
place.
After an early morning start to mitigate the effects of the Beijing
summer heat, Tsegay and Bahraini Shumi Dechasa set the pace in the
early stages as the runners passed the sights of central Beijing.
Pertile and his compatriot Daniele Meucci had taken over at the
front by the 20 kilometer mark and they maintained their lead until
Lesotho's Tsepo Mathibelle took off at a sprint 10 kilometers later.
It was a pace that would prove impossible to maintain in the
punishing humidity, however, and Ghebreselassie reeled him in to
take the lead soon after the 35 kilometer mark.
The race was not his yet, though, and with just under two hours on
the clock, Tsegay swept past as the youngster grabbed a bottle of
water.
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The pair battled it out for the lead for a kilometer or more but by
the time the Bird's Nest stadium came into sight, Ghebreselassie was
more than 12 seconds clear.
"I was very close to him and started to think about gold but at 38km
I had stomach problems and had to slow down a bit," Tsegay said.
"Maybe it was because of the hot weather."
Handed his nation's flag just before he entered the arena,
Ghebreselassie ran the final straight with it to claim Eritrea's
second world championship medal after Zersenay Tadesse's 10,000m
silver in 2009.
"Here it is very difficult, but we Eritreans never give up until the
finish line," he said.
The Kenyans had a disappointing morning with world record holder
Dennis Kimetto and previous world record holder Wilson Kipsang both
failing to finish and Paris marathon champion Mark Korir crossing
the line in 22nd place.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Ian Ransom/Patrick
Johnston)
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