|
By Bob Ramsak
Eritrean Zersenay Tadesse and Eliud Kipchoge of Kenyan have joined the field for the EventScotland Great Edinburgh International Cross Country race in the Scottish capital on January 13, organizers announced today.
Tadesse, who will make his third consecutive appearance in the race, will arrive on the heels of his recent victory at the IAAF World Road Running Championships, where he dispensed with a solid field over the 20 km distance. In 2004 Tadesse became Eritrea’s first Olympic medallist after his third place finish in the 10,000m. In last January’s Edinburgh race, he finished third.
Kipchoge, the 2003 world 5000m champion, returns again after several outings in the Scottish event, which in recent years has attracted the strongest fields to annually assemble in a non-championship event. Despite an admitted off-year in 2006, the 22-year-old Kenyan nonetheless twice clocked under 13 minutes for 5000m this season, topped by his 12:54.94 performance at Rome’s Golden Gala in July, the year’s eighth fastest time.
Previously announced was defending champion Kenenisa Bekele’s return to the event, along with two-time World Cup 3000m champion Craig Mottram of Australia. Considered by many the best cross country runner ever, Bekele collected an unprecedented fifth consecutive double victory at the World Cross Country Championships last April. Ethiopia’s Gelete Burka, the reigning world cross country short course champion, is also returning to defend her women's title.
The venue at Holyrood Park was recently selected to host the 2008 edition of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Comment on this story.
Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest
|
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?