Posted: December 8, 2005

Athletics: Bekele To Make 2006 Debut At Edinburgh Cross

From David Monti

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

By Bob Ramsak

Kenenisa Bekele will make his first appearance of the year at the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country on Saturday, January 14, organizers announced today.

The 23-year-old Ethiopian, who last March claimed an unprecedented fourth consecutive double win at the World Cross Country Championships, was slated to run in this event last January, but was forced to pull out after the tragic death of his fiancée Alem Techale just 11 days before the race.

"It has always been on the cards Bekele would accept the invitation to come to Edinburgh," said Matthew Turnbull, elite athletes director for the race, in a press release. "Kenenisa for the last nine months always said he would try and honor that commitment and there has been a long standing offer on the table with him since then."

In the last edition, the Edinburgh race brought together the strongest international field of the year outside of the World Championships. A similar field is expected this year. Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea, who finished second to Bekele in the long course race at the World Championships, has already been announced.

Bekele last raced on September 17, when he won the 3000 meters at the inaugural Golden Grand Prix in Shanghai, China. Three weeks earlier, Bekele broke his own world record in the 10,000 meters, clocking 26:17.53 at the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels, 18 days after winning his second consecutive world title in the event.

Besides "two or three" cross country races, Bekele is planning to contest another two or three indoor track competitions this season, his manager, Jos Hermens, told RRW.

[NOTE: RRW will provide on-site coverage from Edinburgh.]