Sydney  - Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie ran away with the inaugural HBA Great Australian Run in Melbourne on Sunday.

The 35-year-old middle-distance maestro left Kenyan Patrick Makau at the 11-kilometre mark to finish the 15-kilometre race in 42 minutes and 40 seconds. Australian amateur Collis Birmingham came in third behind Makau.

Olympic marathon champion Constantine Dita of Romania started favourite in the women's section, but could only manage sixth.