Kenenisa Bekele brimming with enthusiasm ahead of return to Edinburgh

Published on Monday 14 December 2009 22:02

THREE-time winner Kenenisa Bekele will bid to regain the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country title next month.

The greatest-ever cross country performer, with six IAAF World Championships long and five short course victories to his credit, took little persuading to return to Holyrood Park on 9 January.

"It's a race I've always enjoyed because there is always a great field and of course I won my last world title there in 2008," the 27-year-old Ethiopian said.

Bekele took the decision after that 2008 triumph to retire from the annual championships.

"But cross country is still one of my favourite events and it will be a challenge to try to win in Edinburgh once again," said the reigning Olympic and world 5,000 metres and 10,000m champion.

Bekele's appearance in the capital will see him fully tested in a field which will include countryman Gebre Gebremariam – the reigning world cross-country champion.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, winner after Bekele withdrew from the inaugural race in 2005 after the tragic death of his teenage fiancee Alem Techale with a heart attack, is also returning for the 9km event. "Kipchoge who beat Bekele for the world 5,000m title in 2003 have always been great rivals and they've also fought some great cross country duels in the past," said elite athletes manager Andy Caine.

Caine added: "With Gebremariam also in the field and already having four high-class victories under his belt on the European circuit this winter, I think a great race is again on the cards."

Meanwhile, UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee has warned GB athletes that simply competing will not be good enough at next year's European Championships – insisting the team needs "contenders not pretenders". UKA yesterday announced the qualifying standards for event will be the same as those set for last summer's World Championships. The Euros take place in Barcelona from 27 July to 1 August and Van Commenee wants Britain to build on their encouraging display in Berlin – where they won two gold medals, two silver and two bronze – as the team gear up for the 2012 Olympics in London.

The head coach said: "We are looking to prepare and shape contenders for London and therefore we want to use every major championship as a practice for that. These higher standards mean those selected will be expected to make finals not simply to compete. We are looking for contenders, not pretenders."