I have always wondered if Hicham and Haile have ever raced each other or even chilled out together off the track. It would be awesome seeing those two legends together. Does anybody know if they've ever had an association?
I have always wondered if Hicham and Haile have ever raced each other or even chilled out together off the track. It would be awesome seeing those two legends together. Does anybody know if they've ever had an association?
there's an awesome picture of geb and el g running side by side in the world junior XC meet that was held at franklin park, boston in early the '90s. photo was in tnf news a bunch of years ago.
I think in 1998 or 1999 El G set the WR in the indoor 1500m and Geb was 2nd, about 2 seconds back.
You know that they raced one another in Stuttgart over 1500m indoors in 1997?
It resulted in the still standing WR
1. 3:31.18 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 14 09 1974 1r2 Stuttgart 02 02 1997
2. 3:32.39 Haile Gebrselassie 2r2 Stuttgart 02 02 1997
of course, the following year Geb improved his PB to 3:31.76.
It was an epic battle -- I have it on DVD -- I've never seen anyone pull away from Geb like that before. They were true sportsmen -- afterwards, they congratulated one another and jogged around the track together, waiving to the crowd.
They also met in the 5000 at world junior champs in 1992 .. i think geb won that battle
Stuttgart, 1997. El Guerrouj, in a few months time, will emerge as a leader during the Golden Four (Oslo, Zurich, Brussels, Berlin) beating Niyongabo, Morceli, Rotich, Kiobwen, and all comers. He will also win a WC gold with a 1:18 last 600.
Indoors, Jos Hermens sets up a 1500 for Geb to go after the WR. Coincidentally, El G will be there gunning for the same WR.
Three pacemakers take them through. The pace is so fast that one guy drops out after just 400m. 55 through the 400, 1:52 through 800. Jos is in his customary position on the side of track, 200 to go, screaming at Gebrselassie everytime he passes.
2:49 at 1200 and then Geb breaks. The Ethiopian fans are going crazy, and actually, El Guerrouj makes only one move and gains nothing more on Geb in the last 200. 3:31.18 WR, 3:32.39 2nd for Geb.
Great race. I am convinced Gebrselassie could have run under 3:30 outdoors.