Berhane Adere (ETH) in action in the women's 3000m (© Getty Images)
2003 World Indoor 3000m and 2002 World Half Marathon champion Birhane Adere of Ethiopia will be the one to beat in the Balmoral Road Races which are run on the Royal estate in Scotland, UK on Saturday 10 May.
The Ethiopian has produced some fine displays in the UK, running the second fastest time in the world for 5000m last year (14:33.65) at Crystal Palace, and then capturing her World indoor crown in Birmingham in March.
But she will be looking to make up for her disappointing 12th place when she last raced in the Great North Run, in October. Despite that performance, elite field co-ordinator Peter Elliott of Nova International who organised both that race and this weekend’s Balmoral event had no hesitation in inviting her back.
Notably, on 13 April, Adere was back to her very best on the roads, equalling the World’s fastest ever time by a woman over 5km, with a 14:54 clocking to win the 18th edition of the Carlsbad 5000.
Not surprisingly then, Elliott, the former Commonwealth 1500m champion tips Adere to win the five-mile event, although Australian Benita Johnson will be among those trying to spring a surprise.
Last weekend, it was another Aussie named Johnson who made the headlines, when 30 year-old Patrick Johnson broke the 10 seconds barrier for the 100 metres in Japan, and Benita would love to upstage Adere with a world beating performance of her own.
Benita Johnson pushed training partner Sonia O’Sullivan to a European 5km road best of 14:56 when she last ran on the UK roads in Hyde Park last year, and will be a strong contender on Balmoral on Royal Deeside, where she finished third to O’Sullivan and Romania’s Gabriela Szabo last year.
Already this year the Australian has finished highly in two World Championships, placing seventh indoors in Birmingham, and then fifth in the World Cross Country short course race in Lausanne.
Kenya’s Edith Masai retained her short course title in Lausanne and will be a big threat to Adere, as will former World and Olympic 10,000m champion Fernanda Ribeiro of Portugal - who is the reigning Olympic bronze medallist from Sydney - Kenya’s Lornah Kiplagat, who holds the world's fastest ever time over 10 miles, and French star Fatiha Baouf. Hayley Yelling is the best of the domestic hopefuls.
Elliott predicts two British successes though in the mile races, where Kelly Holmes and John Mayock are his tips to win. Both have enjoyed success at Balmoral before, and may be suited by the change of distance to a mile.
Olympic 800m bronze medallist Holmes, a winner over 3km at Balmoral two years ago, faces a predominantly domestic line-up featuring Hayley Tullett and Helen Clitheroe, although World Indoor 3000m finalist Amaia Piedra is one of three Spaniards added to the field this week.
Holmes has returned from South Africa, where she has been training with World and Olympic 800m champion Maria Mutola, and of those in action this weekend she has shown the best form so far this year with a second place in the World Indoor 1500m. She has a good record in Nova International events, winning a road mile on the eve of the Great North Run last year.
Mayock won the 4km race at Balmoral last year, and will be seeking another victory as he faces fierce rival Anthony Whiteman, and the surprise Commonwealth 1500m champion Michael East. Welshman James Thie ran well over the distance in the States this winter, while European junior bronze medallist Ricky Soos will gain valuable experience against senior opposition.
Kenya’s World 4km cross country silver medallist John Kibowen is the favourite for the men’s five-mile race. South African record-holder Hendrick Ramaala, Ethiopian Erpassa Lamiith and Wilberforce Talel of Kenya could be among the dangers, while Jose Manuel Martinez the European 10,000m champion heads Europe’s hopes.
Martinez was the second European home in the long race at the World Cross Country Championships, although he will find weather conditions much colder than the heat of Lausanne.
A biting wind has been blowing across the north of Scotland this week and will not be conducive to fast times on the royal estate, although it should be a great afternoon of racing.
