Athletics: Cheruiyot has a double first in mind for Holyrood test

After her superb display to capture the World 5000 metres track title in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin last August, though, not even the presence of the double Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba from Ethiopia will daunt the 26-year-old Kenyan from Eldoret, who will be having her first cross country outing of the European winter.

But she admits she is a little apprehensive of the conditions: "It's not good – I've never run in snow so I'm a little fearful and will try to run carefully," said Cheruiyot, who won the prestigious San Silvestre New Year street race in Madrid to open 2010 on a high.

"I beat the Spanish middle-distance lady who was disqualified in the 1500 metres in Berlin," she giggled. "I'm not going to say I'll win tomorrow but I hope to improve on last year."

Cheruiyot, whose track target for 2010 is to take advantage of the exciting new International Federation "baby", the Diamond League, to reduce her best 5,000m time to something nearer the world record, faces not only Dibaba but also a tough supporting cast, They include the newly crowned European champion Hayley Yelling, now Mrs Higham, the World 1500m runner-up Lisa Dobriskey, now Mrs Soos, and the world junior 1500m gold medallist Stephanie Twell.

Aldershot-based Twell, whose mother Isobel is from Paisley, is no stranger to this event, but, having switched allegiance from England last July, she will be making her long-awaited debut in Scottish colours on Scottish soil after being prevented by illness from competing in the Falkirk Cup at Grangemouth Stadium last August.

Twell's appearance will certainly come under much scrutiny, given her disappointing exit from the 1500m in the heats in Berlin and her below par run in the under-23 race in last month's European Championships in Dublin, from which she immediately bounced back to finish second in an international race in Spain on 20 December.

Her positive attitude to running and freedom from injury should mean she can produce a good performance tomorrow.

The leading Scot in Dublin, Freya Murray (Edinburgh AC), was ninth there as she was in this race last year when the diminutive 26-year-old suffered perhaps more than most in the winds which reached 50mph as runners emerged round Haggis Knowe.

"I'm really looking forward to it but I must admit I think I'd prefer mud to rain," said Newcastle-based Murray, who may pace herself on Twell as she did in the UK Trials in Liverpool.

Dibaba won the inaugural Great Edinburgh race five years ago then returned to take the World title for the third time when the championships came to the Capital in 2008.

Her younger sister, 18-year-old Genzebe, who has won the last two World Junior cross country crowns, is also expected to be a strong contender.

Yelling, just 12 months after coming out of retirement, stunned her rivals with her runaway success at last month's European, where she clinched a second gold medal by almost 50 metres to add to her 2004 success.

But all pale by comparison with Bekele, who scored a record sixth World Cross win when the championships came to Holyrood and, like Dibaba, won both 5000 and 10,000m at the Beijeng Olympics.

He will be looking to regain the Great Edinburgh title he three times won between 2006 and 2008.

"It's a race I've always enjoyed because there is always a great field and of course I won my last world title here in 2008," said Bekele, who has needed little persuasion to again visit the Scottish capital.

"Cross country is still one of my favourite events and it will be a challenge to try and win in Edinburgh once again," added the 27-year-old Bekele, who will be fully tested in a field which will include fellow countryman Gebre Gebremariam, the reigning world cross champion.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, winner of the first Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country when Bekele withdrew after the tragic death of his then teenage fiance Alem Techale with a heart attack, is also returning for the nine-kilometre contest.