Notebook: Gebrselassie switching to marathon

By DAVE LUMIA

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie said Thursday he's finished with track and field ... but not running. He'll shift his focus to the marathon and hopes to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 at age 35.

Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic champion and four-time world champion in the 10,000 meters, was hampered by an Achilles tendon injury in Athens and finished fifth in a race won by teammate Kenenisa Bekele.

When he eventually bows out of the international athletics arena, he wants to enter the political one in his homeland.

``It's not an easy thing. Sports and politics are different, almost opposite,'' he said. ``But I'm starting to think now what I can change for the country. When you travel a lot and then come back home, it makes you think. You cannot change the country with one person, but I'll do my part.''

^U.S. diver delivers

ATHENS, Greece - Diver Rachelle Kunkel said her experience as a nurse in labor and delivery helped her prepare for the pressures of competing on the Olympic stage.

Kunkel grew up in West Valley City, Utah, but now lives, works and trains in Los Angeles. She finished ninth Thursday in the women's 3-meter springboard.

Kunkel likened the stress of competing in the Olympics to the maternity ward.

``Sometimes it can be very stressful when a baby or mom is in trouble, and for the most part you have to be the one that is calm on the surface and give support to the family,'' Kunkel said. ``It is a really important as a nurse because you are the one in most contact with the patients and they rely on you for strength, faith and guidance. It is very similar to the Olympics because you feel a lot of stress here. You have to grab hold of it and just control it the best you can.''

^Born to win

ATHENS, Greece - Women's 400-meter hurdles gold-medalist Fani Halkia of Greece addressed the media Thursday and was still beaming. She credited her victory to hard work, crowd support and ``the power of Greek spirit and soul.''

``Greeks are born to be winners; they are born to be first,'' she said. ``It is inscribed in our cells. It is the best gift our ancestors bequeathed upon us.''

^Attendance watch

ATHENS, Greece - Thursday's ticket sales figures released by the Athens Organizing Committee were 202,317, or 92 percent of available capacity - the best figure for the Games.

Track and field, beach volleyball, water polo, equestrian, field hockey, synchronized swimming, track cycling, diving and triathlon were all listed as sellouts. Only boxing (47 percent) was listed as less than half full.

^Bargain time

ATHENS, Greece - With three days left in the Games, prices are coming down at concessions stands. Hot dogs that had been priced at 3 euros were going for 2.50 on Thursday, and cookies were marked down from 1.20 to .80.