Paul Tergat at the 1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships (© Getty Images)
World cross-country champion Paul Tergat announced on Thursday he would step up to marathon running after next year's Olympics.
The Kenyan, who defended his crown for a record fifth successive time in Belfast last month, spoke as he arrived in Aberdeen and travelled to Royal Deeside where he is competing in Saturday's road race at Balmoral.
The Kenyan was linked with a move up to marathon running after he started his journey to Scotland from Boston, home of one of the world’s biggest events over that distance.
Tergat said: "I was a guest of the Boston Marathon organisers last Sunday. For the moment I am not planning to take up marathon running but I will after the next Olympics."
The 29-year-old looks unlikely to attack the world five-mile record of 22 minutes and seven seconds at Balmoral Castle where his principal rivals include 1992 Olympic gold medallist Khalid Skah of Morocco, and fellow Kenyan Thomas Nyariki, last year's Commonwealth 5,000-metre silver medallist. "Winning is the most important thing, although with Skah and Nyariki competing I must also accept I could lose," said Tergat. "It is also very cold outside, and that could influence how quickly the race is run."
Despite his reservations Tergat is in mint condition. Last Saturday he retained his Stramilano title, winning the Italian half-marathon in 59mins 22secs, only five seconds away from his own world best time.
