Posted: December 19, 2005

Athletics: Lebid Joins Edinburgh Field

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

Sergiy Lebid, who cruised to his sixth European cross country title eight days ago, will contest next month's Great Edinburgh International Cross Country, organizers announced today.

"I'm looking forward to returning to Edinburgh," said the 30-year-old Ukrainian, who was fifth in the race last January. "Although it was a very tough race the last time and I expect it will be again."

In what is again shaping into a star-studded race, Lebid will face double World Cross Country champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea, the reigning world long course silver medallist, in the Scottish capital on January 14. In an exciting clash last January, Eliud Kipchoge edged Ethiopian Dejene Berhanu by a second. Additional major announcements are expected in the next two weeks.

"It's good to have a tough nut like Sergiy coming to Edinburgh again and carry European hopes of a win," said Matthew Turnbull, the athletes director for the race.

Prior to his fifth straight European title in Tilburg, Netherlands last week, Lebid said his primary focus in 2006 would be on the track, with his sights set on a possible double at the European Championships in Gothenburg. Turnbull said this race will fit nicely into those plans.

"Lebid knows the strength that can be gained from cross country training and running and I know he will again be giving it everything after being the only European to finish in the top-10 this year."

"Fifth place was an oustanding performance given the quality of the field and let's not forget," Turnbull added, "he also finished a few seconds ahead of Tadesse."

At the Iris Lotto CrossCup in Brussels, Belgium yesterday, Lebid finished runner-up for the fourth year in a row, this time to Ethiopian Abebe Dinkessa. Lebid will race next in the BoClassic Road Race in Bolzano, Italy on New Year’s Eve. Lebid won the 10.05 km Bolzano race for the fifth time last year, defeating a solid field that included Stefano Baldini, Jaouad Gharib, and Rui Silva.