Posted: January 11, 2005

Athletics: Kipchoge To Replace Bekele In Edinburgh Race

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Eliud Kipchoge, the 2003 world champion at 5000m, is to replace Kenenisa Bekele at Saturday's View From Great Edinburgh Cross Country, according to event organizers, Nova International. Bekele is still mourning the loss of his fiancée, Alem Techale, who died suddenly last week while training with him.

"In the terrible circumstances and timeframe, we didn't expect Bekele to come to the race," said athletics director Matthew Turnbull in a press release sent to athletics journalists this morning.

Bekele had won the event twice when it was previously held in Newcastle.

Kipchoge, who won the Olympic Games bronze medal at 5000m, is also an excellent cross country runner. He was Kenyan cross country champion in 2004 at the 12-K distance, and placed fourth at last year's IAAF World Cross Country Championships, also at 12-K. He was also the runner-up at the Great North event last year. Like Bekele, he is managed by Jos Hermens who arranged for the switch.

"Effectively we have replaced one great African distance runner with another and the field is still looking fantastic," added Turnbull.

Kipchoge's key rival on Saturday should be the Kenyan-born Qatari, Saif Saaeed Shaheen, the world record holder for the 3000m steeplechase and the fourth place finisher at last year's World Cross Country Championships.

Turnbull admitted that the recruiting process was not over, despite the fact that the event is only five days away. "Other signings are imminent," he said. "I just need to sort out a couple of visa's before another announcement."