Gebrselassie breaks two world marks

By Alan Crosby

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (Reuters) - Twice Olympic 10,000 meters champion Haile Gebrselassie broke the world one-hour and 20 kilometers marks at the "Golden Spike" grand prix athletics meeting on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Ethiopian ran 21.285 km in 60 minutes to surpass Mexican Arturo Barrios's previous mark of 21.101 km, set in La Fleche, France, on March 30, 1991.

On the way, he also broke the 20-km world mark of 56 minutes 55.60 seconds, set by Barrios during his run in 1991. Gebrselassie clocked 56:25.98.

"When I arrived at the stadium I was worried about the wind but it died down. At that moment I was thinking I could break the (one-hour) record," a smiling Gebrselassie told reporters by the finish line. "I felt comfortable the whole way."

In her first race since breaking the women's 5,000 meters world record, fellow Ethiopian Meseret Defar ran a measured race over the distance to win in 14 minutes 30.18 seconds, well outside her 14:16.63 record.

Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva easily won the women's pole vault at 4.66 meters but was also well short in her bid to break her own world record of 5.01 meters.

"I don't know why I jumped so poorly. I wanted to jump higher and beat the world record but I just couldn't do it," Isinbayeva said.

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