Athletics: Olympic champs sign up for Holyrood race

Olympic champions Asbel Kiprop and Brimin Kipruto will compete at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country.

The Kenyans, who claimed the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase titles at the 2008 Beijing Games, will contest the international four-kilometre race in Holyrood Park on 8 January.

Fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, a former World 5000m champion is returning to the event for the fifth time.

Peter Riley, the meeting's elite event co-ordinator, said: "We're delighted that we have already attracted three of the world's greatest distance runners and it supports our decision in reducing the men's international race distance from 9km to 4km." "The distance was dropped from the world cross country championships a couple of years ago, although it was always popular amongst the athletes.

"Kiprop is more than happy to step up in distance and he was the 2007 World Junior Cross Country Champion.

"Kipruto hasn't paid any serious attention to cross country in the past but with his steeplechase background, will be extremely suited to the course."

The meeting, which will be shown live on the BBC, will still feature the traditional women's international 6km race.

The schedule also includes an 8km Men's International Team Challenge, featuring Great Britain & Northern Ireland senior, under 23 and under 20 sides against the USA and a Europe Select.