News24 Nov 2009


World champion Gebremariam lines up for Edinburgh XC fixture

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Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam translates his junior victory from seven years ago into senior success at the World Cross Country Championships (© Getty Images)

World Cross Country champion Gebre Gebremariam will attempt to add the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country - IAAF Permit - to his list of top honours in the New Year.

The 25-year-old Ethiopian has committed himself to the event which again will feature Olympic and global title holders on 9 January 2010.

Gebremariam opened his season with a thrilling victory at the opening IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting in Oeiras on Saturday (21) when outsprinting Eduardo Mbengani to win the Portugese event by a second.
                                                               
"It was a hard race for me in wet and windy conditions, so I was very pleased," said Gebremariam who first came to prominence when winning the World junior title seven years ago.

Gebremariam will lead another star-studded filed over the tough Holyrood Park venue and the women's race will also feature a field of the same high quality for the BBC televised meeting.

"We have a reputation of attracting only the best to what is a superb venue and which of course hosted the highly successful World Championships" said Andy Caine, the elite athletes manager for the event.

Caine, currently in Melbourne for Sunday's Great Australian Run, added: "When I get back home next week I plan confirming some other major signings and believe me, they include some very big names.

"We are very fortunate that athletes want to run in Edinburgh. It has its own very special attraction for them as it is recognised by them as possibly the most challenging test of the cross country circuit."

Lynsey Stephenson (Organisers) for the IAAF


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