28-12-2007, 09:17 AM
Former world short course champion Gelete Burka will chase a third successive victory at the BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country on Saturday 12th January.
Burka is determined not only to score a hatrick at the Holyrood Park venue but also ensure the women's title continues to remain in Ethiopian hands since the meeting was first staged in 2005.
Olympic 10000 metres champion Tirunesh Dibaba was victor on that occasion, but a year later Burka surprisingly demolished her training partner's hopes with her finishing pace.
Last January Burka again produced a powerful display in the closing stages to win by nine seconds ahead of Vivian Cheruiyot and Benita Johnson, Australia's former world long course gold medallist.
"Cheruiyot has also announced her intention to return and she is a much more developed athlete than she was 12 months ago," said Andy Caine, the event's elite athletes director.
The Kenyan had a superb outdoor season, in June also breaking the previous world 5000 metres record when runner-up behind Meseret Defar in Oslo.
Cheruiyot again chased home the Ethiopian at the World Championships at the beginning of September before closing her summer three weeks later when winning the World Athletics Final.
Caine believes the rematch between the pair, will produce a tremendous duel on January 12th.
"I'm delighted that Burka is returning - she's an exceptional talent and her manager insists the attraction of scoring a hatrick will be a motivating factor."
"I also believe Cheruiyot will be returning to Edinburgh a much more accomplished performer after her high profile track season and does have the credentials to spoil Burka's target."
The event is part of a festival of running in Holyrood Park with the BUPA Great Winter Run, a mass participation 5km run for runners of all abilities, the curtain raiser to the day.
Caine, who is still planning to add more overseas stars to the field, also revealed there has been an excellent response from top British cross country runners to compete in the 6.7 kilometres race.
"Hayley and Liz Yelling, Lisa Dobriskey, Kate Reed and Helen Clitheroe, are amongst those who have already signed-up and more are in the pipeline.ââ¬Â
"Regarding foreign athletes, I plan finalising the list after the European Cross Country Championships which will take place very shortly."
For more information about the BUPA Great Edinburgh International X Country and to enter the BUPA Great Winter Run, please visit http://www.greatrun.org.
Burka is determined not only to score a hatrick at the Holyrood Park venue but also ensure the women's title continues to remain in Ethiopian hands since the meeting was first staged in 2005.
Olympic 10000 metres champion Tirunesh Dibaba was victor on that occasion, but a year later Burka surprisingly demolished her training partner's hopes with her finishing pace.
Last January Burka again produced a powerful display in the closing stages to win by nine seconds ahead of Vivian Cheruiyot and Benita Johnson, Australia's former world long course gold medallist.
"Cheruiyot has also announced her intention to return and she is a much more developed athlete than she was 12 months ago," said Andy Caine, the event's elite athletes director.
The Kenyan had a superb outdoor season, in June also breaking the previous world 5000 metres record when runner-up behind Meseret Defar in Oslo.
Cheruiyot again chased home the Ethiopian at the World Championships at the beginning of September before closing her summer three weeks later when winning the World Athletics Final.
Caine believes the rematch between the pair, will produce a tremendous duel on January 12th.
"I'm delighted that Burka is returning - she's an exceptional talent and her manager insists the attraction of scoring a hatrick will be a motivating factor."
"I also believe Cheruiyot will be returning to Edinburgh a much more accomplished performer after her high profile track season and does have the credentials to spoil Burka's target."
The event is part of a festival of running in Holyrood Park with the BUPA Great Winter Run, a mass participation 5km run for runners of all abilities, the curtain raiser to the day.
Caine, who is still planning to add more overseas stars to the field, also revealed there has been an excellent response from top British cross country runners to compete in the 6.7 kilometres race.
"Hayley and Liz Yelling, Lisa Dobriskey, Kate Reed and Helen Clitheroe, are amongst those who have already signed-up and more are in the pipeline.ââ¬Â
"Regarding foreign athletes, I plan finalising the list after the European Cross Country Championships which will take place very shortly."
For more information about the BUPA Great Edinburgh International X Country and to enter the BUPA Great Winter Run, please visit http://www.greatrun.org.