Bring on the bridge
HE’S facing an uphill climb, but hometown hero Dejen Gebreselassie is pushing for victory in Sunday’s 10th anniversary Run the Bridge event in Hobart. “DJ” finished second last year, so he has a point to prove, but he’ll be up against 14 runners who have clocked sub-30 minutes at the distance.
IT would mean the world to hometown hero Dejen Gebreselassie to win the 10th anniversary Run the Bridge on Sunday and the Oceania 10km championship that goes with it.
But to do it he has to take down three Olympians and 14 runners who have clocked sub-30 minutes for the distance. It’s a big ask — but on his day “DJ” says he is a chance to do it.
Second in last year’s event, Gebreselassie says he is in career-best shape and looks forward to facing off with Olympians Brett Robinson, Ben St Laurence, four-time winner Liam Adams, as well as Commonwealth Games representative Harry Summers and Gold Coast 10km race record holder Jordan Gusman.
“This year’s field is very strong and there are a lot of fast guys in this race and I just want to say good luck to the boys and that I’m ready for this race,” Gebreselassie said.
The key to winning the race from Blundstone Arena to Princes Wharf No.2 was to bide your time.
“The best tactic for the win is not to go out too hard,” he said. “The first 5km is a hilly course and you have to be very sensible on those hills.
“After the first 5km it’s downhill and it’s going to be fast and a very big chance for someone to go very hard and try to win.”
Last year “DJ” clocked 29min 20sec.
“Hopefully this year I can crack sub-29, and I can definitely say I’m in better shape now and hopefully I can run around 28min 40sec — that would be a nice PB for me if I can do that,” he said.
“I’m not sure if that will be fast enough to win it — hopefully it will be.
“Some of these guys run 28:30 and if the conditions are good, nice weather and no wind, I predict the winning time will be around 28:20.”
It is the second year that Run the Bridge has been the Oceania 10km championship for men and women.
Entries are open until noon on Saturday.