Twell faces toughest of tests

Published on Tuesday 6 January 2009 08:58

EUROPEAN junior champion Stephanie Twell faces a massive task if she is to maintain her unbeaten winter record in the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross-country.

Twell will be among a stellar field at Holyrood Park on Saturday – including Mestawet Tufa and Linet Masai, who last March claimed world championship silver and bronze medals at the venue.

Joining the Ethiopian and Kenyan duo in the 5.6 kilometre race will be many other top African stars – among them, emerging talent Genzebe Dibaba. The 17-year-old Ethiopian is the younger sister of Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m gold medallist Tirunesh Dibaba.

The men's 8.9km race will see world cross-country champion Zersenay Tadese in action against a host of fellow African stars – while Fife's Andrew Lemoncello, will carry British hopes.