Photo: Kevin Sullivan (in white) and Nick Willis (block M) set national records in the adidas Boston Indoor Games 3000 meter race.

The legendary distance runner Haile Gebreselassie was looking for a world record in the 3000 meter race at the adidas Boston Indoor Games at Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, Saturday, January 31, 2004. Gebreselassie wowed the crowd with his 7:35:24 win, but the world record eluded him.

In the same race (not shown by ESPN's live coverage of the race, 2000 Olympian Kevin Sullivan and University of Michigan sophomore Nick Willis made history. Sullivan's 7:44.46 set a new Canadian record for the distance, breaking the 7:45:58 set by Jason Bunston in 1996.

Willis ran 7:44:90 to set a New Zealand national record at the distance, breaking the 7:45:94 record set by Kerry Rodger in 1990. He also broke the NCAA collegiate record set by South African Alastair Cragg.

3000 meter results

1. Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) 7:35.24

2. Markos Geneti (ETH) 7:41:06

3. Kevin Sullivan (CAN) 744.46

4. Bernard Lagat (KEN) 7:44.58

5. Nick Willis (NZL) 7:44.90

6. Martin Keino (KEN) 7:44.96

7. Dan Lincoln (USA) 7:45.20

8. Matt Lane (USA) 7:45.72

9. Jason Lunn (USA) 7:47.20

10. Luke Watson (USA) 7:49. 56

11. Anthony Whiteman (GBR) 7:51.61

12. Jonathon Riley (USA) 7:59.61

13. Hudson de Souza (BRA) 8:10.78

In the 1000 meter race, University of Michigan junior Nate Brannen was in the thick of the world class pack and took 4th place with a 2:21.60-- just .27 of a second behind David Krummenacker.

1000 meter results

1. Berhanu Alemu (ETH) 2:20.51

2. Alex Kipchirchir (KEN) 2:21.26

3. David Krummenacker (USA) 2:21.33

4. Nate Brannen (CAN) 2:21.60

5. Derrick Peterson (USA) 2:22.53

6. Patrick Nduwimana (BDI) 2.23.00

7. Nicholas Wachira (KEN) 2.23.64

8. Sam Burley (USA) 2.24.03

9. David Paulsen 2:25.29

10. Floyd Thompson (USA) 2:25.98

The men's mile event had its own drama, with former Eastern Michigan and NCAA 10,000 meter champion Boaz Chebioywo finishing second by less than a second behing Laban Rotich.

Mile Results

1.Laban Rotich (KEN) 3:56.60

2.Boaz Cheboiywo (KEN) 3:57.00

3.Marko Koers (NED) 3:59.17

4.Charlie Gruber (USA) 4:00.19

5.William Chirchir (KEN) 4:00.49

6.Ryan Bak (USA) 4:03.07

7.Julius Achon (UGA) 4:03.13

8.Bryan Berryhill (USA) 4:04.81

9.James Karanu (KEN) 4:08.23

10.Ibrahim Aden (USA) 4:09.21

11.Jason Pyrah (USA) 4:10.25

12.Fidel Beragezabi (BDI)4:13.38

For complete results see http:/ /bostonindoorgames.com .