Who is Haile Gebrselassie

"I used to run to school, 10k every day. And this at altitude, perfect preparation, really." --Haile Gebrselassie

Gebrselassie was born as one of ten children in Asella, a small village in Arsi Province, Ethiopia. As a child growing up on a farm, he ran 10 kilometers to school every morning, and the same back every evening. He carried his books in his left arm, leading to a distinctive running posture, where his left arm remains crooked as if still holding his schoolbooks.

Gebrselassie gained international recognition in 1992 when he won the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races at the 1992 junior World Championships in Seoul, and a silver medal in the junior race at the World Cross Country Championships.

The next year, in 1993, Gebrselassie won the first of what would eventually be four consecutive world championships titles in the men's 10,000 meters at the 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1999 World Championships. At the 1993 World Championships, he also ran the 5,000 meter race to finish a close second behind Ismael Kirui of Kenya. In 1994 he won a bronze medal in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Later that year he set his first world record by running a 12:56.96 in the 5,000 meters, breaking Said Aouita's record by two seconds.

In 1995, Gebrselassie lowered the 10,000 meters record by nine seconds when he ran 26:43.53 in Hengelo, Netherlands. That same summer, in Zürich, Switzerland, Gebrselassie ran the 5000 meters in 12:44.39, ripping an astonishing 10.91 seconds off the world record 12:55.30 (established by Kenya's Moses Kiptanui earlier in the year). This world record at the Weltklasse meet in Zürich was voted Performance of the Year by Track & Field News magazine.

Gebrselassie won his first Olympic gold medal in Atlanta, 1996. Paul Tergat led much of the final 2000 meters of the race, but Gebrselassie took off with 400 meters to go to seal the victory. Unfortunately, he suffered severe blisters and had to drop out of the 5,000 meters race as a result. (See video below.)

With his previous year's performance in the 5,000 meters, Gebrselassie seemed to have put the meter record out of reach for quite a while, but the very next year Daniel Komen showed that this wasn't the case. At the same Weltklasse meet in Zürich, an exhausted Gebrselassie, suffering from the blisters he'd obtained on the hard track in Atlanta, had no answer to the 58-second lap of Daniel Komen with 5 laps to go as Komen went on to win and just miss Gebrselassie's record, finishing in 12:45.09.

In 1997, Gebrselassie turned the tables on Komen at the same meet. Coming off his third 10,000 meter world championship gold medal, Gebrselassie outkicked Komen in another Zürich classic on August 13, covering the final 200 meters in 26.8 seconds to break his 5,000 meter world record with a time of 12:41.86. The record lasted just nine days, however, when Komen ran a 12:39.74 performance in Belgium.

Source: Wikipedia

"I think if you come first with a new world record, that is the best." --Haile Gebrselassie

The next year, 1998, saw Gebrselassie lowering the indoor world records for 2,000 and 3,000 meters, taking back both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter world records outdoors, as well as earning a share in the Golden League jackpot for winning all of his races in the Golden League series that summer. In June 1998, in Hengelo, Netherlands, Gebrselassie set a 10,000 meter world record 26:22.75, breaking Paul Tergat's world record 26:27.85, running evenly paced 13:11/13:11 5K splits.

Just 13 days later, Gebrselassie took on the 5,000 meter mark of Komen in Helsinki, Finland. Croatian pacemaker Branko Zorko took the pace out too slowly, hitting 1000 meters in 2:33.91 and dropping out at the mile. Millon Wolde and Assefa Mezgebu led Gebrselassie through 2,000 meters in 5:05.62. His pacemakers could not maintain the pace, though, and Gebrselassie was left alone for a difficult solo effort 6 laps out. Hitting 3,000 meters in 7:38.93, even the British commentators announcing the race counted him out. With 4 laps to go (8:40.00), Gebrselassie needed a sub-4 minute final 1,600 meters for the record. With one lap to go and in great pain, Gebrselassie took off, recording a final lap of 56.77 seconds and a final 1,600 meters of 3:59.36 (= 4:00.96 mile) to race to a 12:39.36 world record. (See this race and hear the commentary below)

In 1999, Gebrselassie starred as himself in the movie Endurance. The film chronicled his quest to win Olympic gold in the 10,000 meters in Atlanta. On the track, he won a 1,500/3,000 meter double at the world indoor track championships, defended his outdoor world track championships 10,000 meter title, and remained undefeated in all his races (which ranged from the 1,500 up to 10,000 meters).

In 2000, Gebrselassie again won all of his races, ranking first in the world yet again in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he became the third man in history to successfully defend an Olympic 10,000 meter title (after Emil Zátopek and Lasse Virén). The narrow Olympic victory over Kenya's Paul Tergat came down to a blistering final kick, with Tergat's 26.3 second final 200 meters being topped by Gebrselassie's even faster 25.4. The winning margin of victory was only 0.09 seconds, closer than the winning margin in the men's 100 meter dash final. This is widely considered the greatest finish to any distance race in history. (See video below.)

In 2001, Gebrselassie won the IAAF World half marathon and the bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics, when Charles Kamathi of Kenya broke Gebrselassie's string of four consecutive world championship gold medals.

On August 30, 2003, Gebrselassie topped the polls when elected as a member of the IAAF Athletes Commission. Also in 2003, at the World Championships in Paris, Gebrselassie was involved in one of the most remarkable 10,000 meter races of all time while gaining a silver medal behind countryman and protégé Kenenisa Bekele. The last half of the 10,000 meter final at the championships was completed in a staggering 12:57.24 (12:57.2 for Bekele and 12:58.8 for Gebrselassie). According to the IAAF, "[n]ot only was this split the fastest closing 5,000 meters in the championships 10,000m (the previous record was 13:12.12, recorded in Atlanta), but it was also the fastest 5,000 meters in a global championships surpassing the 12:58.13 Salah Hissou recorded when he won the 5,000m in Sevilla '99." (This remark remained true until a week later when the World Track & Field Championship 5,000 meter medalists (including Bekele) all ran faster than the second 5,000 meter split in the previous week's 10,000 meters.) "The difference between the closing 5,000 meter splits (12:57.24) and the 5,000 meter World record (12:39.36) was 17.98 seconds, which is a record. The previous best of 18.4 seconds (13:31.4 for the closing 5,000 meters when the World Record was 13:13.0) was recorded in the 1976 Olympics."

In the 2004 Athens Olympics, Gebrselassie was seeking to become the first man in history to win three straight Olympic gold medals in the 10,000 meters. He was unable to do so, however, finishing fifth in a race won by his compatriot Kenenisa Bekele, who had broken both of Gebrselassie's major track world records in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Shortly before the Athens games, Gebrselassie was unable to train for 3 weeks due to inflammation in his Achilles tendon. The injury was severe enough that he would not have competed otherwise, but did so because of significant pressure from his country. This loss of the final period of training likely cost him a medal.

Source: Source: Wikipedia

"I have to change a lot of things before I become a good marathon runner." --Haile Gebrselassie

Since leaving the track after the 2004 Olympics, Gebrselassie has focused on road racing and the marathon. His adult marathons to date include London 2002, Amsterdam 2005 (1st place), London 2006 (9th place), Berlin 2006 (1st place), Fukuoka 2006 (1st place), London 2007 (DNF), and Berlin 2007 (1st place and World Record).

In 2005 Gebrselassie went undefeated in all of his road races. This included a British All-Comers record in the 10K at Manchester (27:25), a win in the Amsterdam Marathon in the fastest marathon time in the world for 2006 (2:06:20), and a new world best for 10 miles in Tilburg, The Netherlands (44:24). (His unofficial split of 41:22 at the 15K mark was 7 seconds faster than the official world best.)

Gebrselassie started 2006 positively by beating the world half marathon record by a full 21 seconds, recording a time of 58 minutes and 55 seconds on January 15th. He broke the record, his first one on American soil, by running the second half of the Arizona Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. During the race he also broke Paul Tergat's 20 km record, both records having stood since 1998. (Gebrselassie passed the 20 km mark in 55:48.) 2006 also marked another victory for Gebrselassie as he shattered the 25 km world road record (albeit in non-IAAF ratified fashion) by 68 seconds in a time of 1:11:37. The race was organized where Gebrselassie and six other runners would run 5 kilometers and then cross the starting line of the 20 kilometer Alphen race in Alphen aan den Rijn of The Netherlands.

On April 23, 2006, he finished 9th in the London Marathon with a time of 2:09:05 (the race was won by Kenyan Felix Limo, who clocked 2:06:39). Gebrselassie referred to the 9th-place finish as "the worst race of my career". However, on September 24 he came back with a win in the Berlin Marathon in the fastest time of the year, 2:05:56. This was followed by a win in the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan in 2:06:52. His time in Berlin made him only the fifth man in history to run under 2:06 for the marathon.

In London on April 22, 2007 Gebrselassie challenged the 2006 London Marathon winner Felix Limo, the 2005 London Marathon winner Martin Lel, the 2004 Athens gold medalist Stefano Baldini, the 2006 New York Marathon winner Marilson Gomes dos Santos, and the current marathon world record holder Paul Tergat in what organizers anticipated would be an exciting race. However Gebrselassie dropped out at the 18 mile stage complaining of a stitch and inability to breathe, which turned out to be an allergic reaction to the pollen in the air. This left the 2005 winner Martin Lel to come home in first place.

One month later, Gebrselassie made a surprise return to the track where he ran a 26:52.81 in finishing 5th in a very competitive 10,000 meter race in Hengelo, The Netherlands. What made Gebrselassie's time so noteworthy, besides being the 8th time in his career to run under 27 minutes (more than anyone in history) is the fact that Gebrselassie is the only man older than 30 to break 27 minutes in the 10,000 meters.

On June 27, 2007, Gebrselassie launched an attack upon the world record for the one hour run, in Ostrava, Czech Republic. This record attempt was successful as Gebrselassie passed the hour mark at 21,285 m (13 miles 397 yards), thus eclipsing the previous best, 21,101 m, set by Mexican Arturo Barrios in La Fléche, France, on 30 March 1991. Furthermore, Gebrselassie covered 50 laps (20,000 m) in 56:25.98, another world best, well within the previous 56:55.6 also set by Barrios in 1991. These were his 23rd and 24th world records.

Gebrselassie made his running debut in New York City when he won the New York City Half Marathon on August 5, 2007 in 59:24, breaking the previous course record by two minutes. He has a perfect record of 8-0 in winning all of his half marathons.

On September 30, 2007 Gebrselassie won the Berlin Marathon in 2:04:26 (4:44.8 per mile), breaking Paul Tergat's world record by 29 seconds. His victory further energized the celebrations of the Ethiopian Millennium (unique to the Ethiopian calendar), which began on September 12, 2007. On the winners podium he wore a blue ribbon to signify his support for Vicky's Water Project - a project set up in memory of Vicky Buchanan to bring clean running water to Lera Town in Ethiopia.

Prior to the 2008 Dubai Marathon, his manager suggested that Gebrselassie would be able to run a sub 2:04 time for a new world record. While Gebrselassie agreed that a sub 2:04 was possible, he stated that the conditions would need to be perfect for such a time. The event was held on January 18, 2008 and was won by Gebrselassie in a time of 2:04:53, making it the second fastest marathon in history. However the early pace (1:01:27 for half marathon) had been too fast and he was unable to continue at that speed, resulting in a time 27 seconds short of his own world record. For his victory, Gebrselassie took home the richest prize in marathon history, US $250,000.

Gebrselassie has recently stated that he will not compete in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and will instead focus on breaking the world record at the Berlin marathon. Gebrselassie plans to run until the 2012 London Olympics, and though he has not made a final decision, he will likely attempt to compete in the 10,000 meters instead.

In April, 2008, Haile was one of 72 athletes inducted into the African Hall of Fame. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the Leeds Metropolitan University for outstanding contribution to the sport.

In his first track race of 2008, Haile ran 26:51.20 to finish second (behind countryman Sileshi Sihine) at the Fanny Blankers-Koen meet in Hengelo. Haile's has now broken 27 minutes for the 10,000 meters a remarkable thirteen years in a row (from 1995 to 2008)! Based on that performance, Haile was named to his fourth Olympic Team. He will run the 10,000 meters with countrymen Kenenisa Bekele and Sileshi Sihine!

Haile ran 27:06.68 to finish 6th in the 10000m in Beijing. He followed that with a 2:03:59 performance to win the Berlin marathon in world record time. In his final race of 2008, he won the inaugural Great Australian Run (15k) in 42:40. He started off 2009 with a win, but a slower than expected 2:05:29 time at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon. He then finished 2nd to Sammy Kitwara by 3 seconds at the Fortis Pier-to-Pier half marathon in The Hague, clocking 59:50. He then missed his 1-hour run record by about 400m, running 20822.36 meters in Hengelo.

Haile was on world record pace at the Berlin Marathon until 35k, but couldn't hold on. He still won the race though, clocking 2:06:08. He then broke Sammy Wanjiru's course record at the Oporto Sportzone Half Marathon in Portugal, running 1:00:02 for the win. He capped off the year with a victory at Trier's Bitburger New Year's Eve race, clocking 22:23 for 8k.

Source: Source: Wikipedia

Championships

1992 Junior World Championships 5000m
1992 Junior World Championships 10000m
1993 World Outdoor Championships 10000m
1995 World Outdoor Championships 10000m
1996 Summer Olympics 10000m
1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships 3000m
1997 World Outdoor Championships 10000m
1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships 1500m
1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships 3000m
1999 World Outdoor Championships 10000m
2000 Summer Olympics 10000m
2001 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships 3000m

Outdoor Bests

3:33.73 - 1500m - Stuttgart (1999)
3:52.39 - mile - Gateshead (1999)
7:25.09 - 3000m - Brussels (1998)
8:01.08 - 2 miles - Hengelo (1997)
12:39.36 - 5000m - Helsinki (1998)
26:22.75 - 10000m - Hengelo (1998)
56:25.98 - 20000m - Ostrava (2007)
21,285m - 1 hour - Ostrava (2007)

Indoor Bests

3:31.76 - 1500m - Stuttgart (1998)
4:52.86 - 2000m - Birmingham (1998)
7:26.15 - 3000m - Karlsruhe (1998)
8:04.69 - 2 miles - Birmingham (2003)
12:50.38 - 5000m - Birmingham (1999)

Road Bests

27:02 - 10000m - Ad-Dawhah (2002)
41:38 - 15000m - Nijmegen (2001)
44:24 - 10 miles - Tilburg (2005)
55:48 - 20000m - Phoenix (2006)
58:55 - half-marathon - Phoenix (2006)
1:11:37 - 25000m - Alphen aan den Rijn (2006)
2:03:59 - marathon - Berlin (2008)

Sources: Wikipedia

Marathon

01. 2:03:59 - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) - Berlin (2008)
02. 2:04:27 - Duncan Kipkemboi Kibet (KEN) - Rotterdam (2009)
03. 2:04:27 - James Kipsang Kwambai (KEN) - Rotterdam (2009)
04. 2:04:55 - Paul Tergat (KEN) - Berlin (2003)
05. 2:04:56 - Sammy Korir (KEN) - Berlin (2003)
06. 2:05:04 - Abel Kirui (KEN) - Rotterdam (2009)
07. 2:05:15 - Martin Lel (KEN) - London (2008)
08. 2:05:24 - Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) - London (2008)
09. 2:05:30 - Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) - London (2008)
10. 2:05:38 - Khalid Khannouchi (USA) - London (2002)
11. 2:05:47 - Vincent Limo (KEN) - Paris (2009)
12. 2:05:49 - William Kipsang (KEN) - Rotterdam (2008)
13. 2:05:50 - Evans Rutto (KEN) - Chicago (2003)
14. 2:06:05 - Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) - Berlin (1998)
15. 2:06:10 - Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) - Fukuoka (2008)
16. 2:06:14 - Felix Limo (KEN) - Rotterdam (2004)
16. 2:06:14 - Patrick Makau (KEN) - Rotterdam (2009)
18. 2:06:15 - Titus Munji (KEN) - Berlin (2003)
18. 2:06:15 - Bazu Worku Hayla (ETH) - Paris (2009)
20. 2:06:16 - Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) - London (2008)
20. 2:06:16 - Moses Tanui (KEN) - Chicago (1999)
20. 2:06:16 - Daniel Njenga (KEN) - Chicago (2002)
20. 2:06:16 - Toshinari Takaoka (JPN) - Chicago (2002)
24. 2:06:17 - Ryan Hall (USA) - London (2008)

Half-Marathon

01. 58:33 - Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) - Den Haag (2007)
02. 58:52 - Patrick Makau (KEN) - Ras al Khaimah (2009)
03. 58:55 - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) - Tempe (2006)
04. 58:59 - Zersenay Tadese (ERI) - Udine (2007)
04. 58:59 - Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich (KEN) - Ras al Khaimah (2009)
06. 59:05 - Evans Kiprop Cheruiyot (KEN) - Udine (2007)
07. 59:06* - Paul Tergat (KEN) - Lisbon (2000)
08. 59:07 - Paul Kosgei (KEN) - Berlin (2006)
09. 59:16 - Deriba Merga Ejigu (ETH) - Udine (2007)
10. 59:20* - Hendrick Ramaala (RSA) - Lisbon (2000)
11. 59:21* - Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN) - Lisbon (2005)
12. 59:26 - Francis Kibiwott (KEN) - Berlin (2007)
13. 59:27* - Wilson Kiprotich Kebenei (KEN) - Lisbon (2005)
13. 59:27 - Patrick Ivuti (KEN) - Rotterdam (2007)
15. 59:28 - Robert Kipchumba (KEN) - Rotterdam (2006)
16. 59:30* - Martin Lel (KEN) - Lisbon (2006)
16. 59:30 - Yonas Kifle (ERI) - Udine (2007)
18. 59:32 - Dieudonné Disi (RWA) - Udine (2007)
18. 59:32 - Wilson Chebet (KEN) - Ras al Khaimah (2009)
20. 59:33 - Marilson dos Santos (BRA) - Udine (2007)

* Slightly downhill course.

10,000 Meters

01. 26:17.53 - Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) - Brussels (2005)
02. 26:22.75 - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) - Hengelo (1998)
03. 26:27.85 - Paul Tergat (KEN) - Brussels (1997)
04. 26:30.03 - Nicholas Kemboi (KEN) - Brussels (2003)
05. 26:30.74 - Abebe Dinkesa Negera (ETH) - Hengelo (2005)
06. 26:35.63 - Micah Kogo (KEN) - Brussels (2006)
07. 26:36.26 - Paul Koech (KEN) - Brussels (1997)
08. 26:37.25 - Zersenay Tadese (ERI) - Brussels (2006)
09. 26:38.08 - Salah Hissou (MAR) - Brussels (1996)
10. 26:38.76 - Abdullah Ahmad Hassan (QAT) - Brussels (2003)
11. 26:39.69 - Sileshi Sihine (ETH) - Hengelo (2004)
12. 26:39.77 - Boniface Kiprop (UGA) - Brussels (2005)
13. 26:41.75 - Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) - Brussels (2005)
14. 26:49.02 - Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) - Hengelo (2007)
15. 26:49.20 - Moses Masai (KEN) - Brussels (2007)
16. 26:49.38 - Sammy Kipketer (KEN) - Brussels (2002)
17. 26:49.55 - Moses Mosop (KEN) - Hengelo (2007)
18. 26:49.90 - Assefa Mezgebu (ETH) - Brussels (2002)
19. 26:50.20 - Richard Limo (KEN) - Brussels (2002)
20. 26:50.67 - Albert Chepkurui (KEN) - Brussels (2002)

5,000 Meters

01. 12:37.35 - Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) - Hengelo (2004)
02. 12:39.36 - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) - Helsinki (1998)
03. 12:39.74 - Daniel Komen (KEN) - Brussels (1997)
04. 12:46.53 - Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) - Rome (2004)
05. 12:47.04 - Sileshi Sihine (ETH) - Rome (2004)
06. 12:48.66 - Issac Songok (KEN) - Zurich (2006)
07. 12:48.81 - Stephen Cherono (KEN) - Ostrava (2003)
08. 12:49.28 - Brahim Lahlafi (MAR) - Brussels (2000)
09. 12:49.71 - Mohammed Mourhit (BEL) - Brussels (2000)
10. 12:50.24 - Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) - Ostrava (2003)
11. 12:50.25 - Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) - Brussels (2005)
12. 12:50.55 - Moses Masai (KEN) - Berlin (2008)
13. 12:50.72 - Moses Kipsiro (KEN) - Brussels (2007)
14. 12:50.80 - Salah Hissou (MAR) - Rome (1996)
15. 12:50.86 - Ali Saïdi-Sief (ALG) - Rome (2000)
16. 12:51.00 - Joseph Ebuya (KEN) - Brussels (2007)
17. 12:51.95 - Thomas Longosiwa (KEN) - Brussels (2007)
18. 12:51.98 - Saif Saeed Shaheen (QAT) - Rome (2006)
19. 12:52.33 - Sammy Kipketer (KEN) - Oslo (2003)
20. 12:52.40 - Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (KEN) - Saint-Denis (2006)

3,000 Meters

01. 7:20.67 - Daniel Komen (KEN) - Rieti (1996)
02. 7:23.09 - Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) - Brussels (1999)
03. 7:25.02 - Ali Saïdi-Sief (ALG) - Monaco (2000)
04. 7:25.09 - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) - Brussels (1998)
05. 7:25.11 - Noureddine Morceli (ALG) - Monaco (1994)
06. 7:25.79 - Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) - Stockholm (2007)
07. 7:26.62 - Mohammed Mourhit (BEL) - Monaco (2000)
08. 7:27.18 - Moses Kiptanui (KEN) - Monaco (1995)
09. 7:27.59 - Luke Kipkosgei (KEN) - Monaco (1998)
10. 7:27.72 - Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) - Brussels (2004)
11. 7:27.75 - Thomas Nyariki (KEN) - Monaco (1996)
12. 7:28.28 - James Kwalia (KEN) - Brussels (2004)
13. 7:28.41 - Paul Bitok (KEN) - Monaco (1996)
14. 7:28.45 - Assefa Mezgebu (ETH) - Monaco (1998)
15. 7:28.67 - Benjamin Limo (KEN) - Monaco (1999)
16. 7:28.70 - Paul Tergat (KEN) - Monaco (1996)
17. 7:28.72 - Issac Songok (KEN) - Rieti (2006)
18. 7:28.78 - Augustine Choge (KEN) - Ad-Dawhah (2005)
19. 7:28.93 - Salah Hissou (MAR) - Monaco (1999)
20. 7:28.94 - Brahim Lahlafi (MAR) - Monaco (1999)

2,000 Meters

01. 4:44.79 - Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) - Berlin (1999)
02. 4:46.88 - Ali Saïdi-Sief (ALG) - Strasbourg (2001)
03. 4:47.88 - Noureddine Morceli (ALG) - Paris (1995)
04. 4:48.69 - Vénuste Niyongabo (BDI) - Nice (1995)
05. 4:48.74 - John Kibowen (KEN) - Hechtel (1998)
06. 4:49.99i - Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) - Birmingham (2007)
07. 4:50.08 - Noah Ngeny (KEN) - Stockholm (1999)
08. 4:50.76 - Craig Mottram (AUS) - Melbourne (2006)
09. 4:50.81 - Saïd Aouita (MAR) - Paris (1987)
10. 4:51.39 - Steve Cram (GBR) - Budapest (1985)
11. 4:51.52 - John Walker (NZL) - Oslo (1976)
12. 4:52.20 - Thomas Wessinghage (FRG) - Ingelheim (1982)
13. 4:52.40 - José Manuel Abascal (ESP) - Santander (1986)
14. 4:52.44 - Jim Spivey (USA) - Lausanne (1987)
15. 4:52.53 - Moses Kiptanui (KEN) - Berlin (1992)
16. 4:52.82 - Peter Elliott (GBR) - Lausanne (1987)
16. 4:52.82 - Luke Kipkosgei (KEN) - Bratislava (1998)
18. 4:52.86i - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) - Birmingham (1998)
19. 4:52.88 - Ismaïl Sghyr (MAR) - Nice (1995)
20. 4:53.06 - Jack Buckner (GBR) - Lausanne (1987)

Sources: All-time Athletics