The weekend saw Ethiopian athletes storm to victory in events on both sides of the Atlantic. Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele and Gelete Burika all finished in first place in their respective competitions, although Haile’s victory was perhaps all the sweeter, breaking not one, but two world records.

While competing in the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and Half-Marathon in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday 15^th January, Haile not only broke the world half-marathon record by a staggering 21 seconds by clocking a time of 58 minutes and 55 seconds, but also broke the 20km record on en route – marking the 20^th time in his career that he has set a world mark..

Following his success this weekend, Haile will be taking part in the London Marathon in April.

"You can see from today's record. I hope I will do very good in the London Marathon," he said.

"If I do not break the world record but win in London, it is something special. But we'll see. Anything is possible."

Meanwhile Kenenisa Bekele Gelete Burika also achieved success for Ethiopia with wins at the VisitScotland Great Edinburgh International Cross country on Saturday 14^th January. Kenenisa ran the Men’s 9.2km, and crossed the finishing line with a time of 26 minutes and 8 seconds, to the sound of cheering crowds of Ethiopian supporters. World junior champion Gelete Burika won the Women’s 6km event with a time of 19:01, and while Tirunesh Dibaba failed in her attempts to defend her Edinburgh Cross Country title, she still finished in third place with a time of 19:21.

ENDS