HENGELO, Netherlands (AP) – Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia set the 5,000-meter world record Monday, breaking the mark set by countryman Haile Gebrselassie in 1998.

Bekele finished in 12 minutes, 37.35 seconds at the FBK Games. Gebrselassie was timed in 12:39.36 in Helsinki, Finland.

Looking relaxed throughout, Bekele took the lead in the fifth minute. He and countryman Mulegeta Wondimu ran together for two more minutes, with Bekele ahead. Then Bekele began opening a huge lead and continued hard the rest of the way.

The race “was very difficult because I had to run out of pace,” Bekele said. “I had to run alone.”

Wondimu finished second in 13:01.28.

Gebrselassie still holds the world record in the 10,000 and was to race in the event Monday.

AP-ES-05-31-04 1458EDT