Cross Country: Massai kicks clear of African rivals

Published on Sunday 11 January 2009 22:57

LINET Masai underlined her ascent towards potential global supremacy with victory in Saturday's Great Edinburgh International Cross-Country. The 19-year-old Kenyan displayed tactical nous beyond her years to leave a quality field in her wake amid the ferocious wind that engulfed Holyrood Park.

"It was easier than last year," she said, having risen from third to the top of a podium which also included Ethiopia's Mestewat Tufa and Kenya's Viola Kibiwott, neither of whom could match Masai's extraordinary acceleration on the penultimate lap of the 5.6km course.

Steph Twell, in fourth, was dissatisfied with her placing but the young Anglo-Scot, in her first major senior outing, will have to get used to battling African supremacy if she wants to fulfil her immense promise. Yet for a spell midway through the race, her position as leading British finisher was threatened by someone who was also once burdened by lofty expectations.

Freya Murray, at 25, is no longer the fresh-faced prospect who was tipped for great things but she has rejuvenated her ambitions. Edinburgh-born but now based in Durham, Murray's form has soared in recent months since she decamped to Colorado to work under the tutelage of former London Marathon winner Steve Jones.

"It was my first long spell of altitude training," said Murray, who ended eighth after a brave pursuit of the leading pack. "I learnt so much from the experience. Steve was an inspiration and he gave me a lot of confidence. It was a motivating experience and I really benefited from training with a group of athletes because I've always been working on my own."

Murray will return to the States for another training stint ahead of the track season but she feels well capable of making the GB squad for the world cross-country in Jordan later this year. "I was pleased that I managed to hold my position until the end of the race even though I was running on my own," she said.

Ethiopian Abebe Dinkesa was an effortless, if surprising, winner in the men's 8.9km, having bolted free of the pack at the outset of the final circuit. Kenya's Mang'ata Ndiwa and pre-event favourite Zersenay Tadese simply could not make inroads into the ten-metre gap which Dinkesa opened up.

Native hope Andrew Lemoncello admitted he was undone by the harsh conditions after ending in twelfth place. The Fifer, who was returning to the USA yesterday, hinted that it is unlikely he will now attempt to earn a place at the world event.

"It's just when you're in the States, you have to make the extra travel so you have to more look at your long term goals in the future," he said.

"To make the trip here, back, then onto Amman is one of those trips you don't want to have to do unless you have to."

Andy Baddeley survived being spiked twice to win the 4km race for the second successive year, finishing three seconds clear of Steve Vernon with Tom Lancashire back in third