MISSED FLIGHT UNLIKELY TO SLOW BEKELE OR AFRICAN ONSLAUGHT
By David Monti
(c) 2008 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission

EDINBURGH (29-Mar) -- Five-time double IAAF World Cross Country champion
Kenenisa Bekele has yet to arrive here, but his presence is already felt. His flight
from Addis Ababa arrived late, allowing him only 30 minutes at London's
Heathrow Airport to connect for his flight to Edinburgh this morning. (Anyone who
has been to Heathrow knows that even one hour there is barely enough time to
change planes).

But no matter, because the mighty Ethiopian can skip the course tour. He's
already won three invitational races on the Holyrood Park circuit, the last coming
less than three months ago.

"I have experience of the course here in Edinburgh, and have won the annual
race here on three occasions," Bekele told the IAAF's Chris Turner via telephone
as he waited for his flight. "So, my travel delay does not worry me."

What may worry the three-time world 10,000m champion is defending champion
Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea who defeated Bekele in the absurd heat and humidity of
Mombassa last year. Dizzy and confused from the heat, Bekele was forced to
abandon that race, snapping his win streak at five and putting his team out of the
medal hunt because they only had five athletes finish the race (six men are
needed to score in the senior race).

Tadese, who was on hand for this morning's press conference, finished just one
second behind Bekele at the Event Scotland Great Edinburgh Cross Country last
January 12. Speaking carefully in English, Tadese was restrained in his
comments, but projected a quiet confidence.

"Actually, I'm ready for this competition," said Tadese, who is also the
reigning IAAF World Road Running champion. He added: "Actually, Kenenisa is a strong
athlete. But, I'm ready. I'll try my best."

There is little doubt that African men will continue their dominance of this
competition which only features 65 nations and an anemic turnout of athletes and
teams from Europe. In 1973 85% of the athletes in these championships were
from Europe. That share has fallen to 29% this year. Germany hasn't entered a
single athlete, France only one, and Italy only four. None of host country Great
Britain's top distance running stars (Paula Radcliffe, Mara Yamauchi, Mo Farah
or Jo Pavey) are entered.

"The issue for me is a coaching issue," commented two-time Olympic 1500 gold
medalist Sebastian Coe, who said that in his day a cross country season was de
rigueur for all middle and long distance runners. "Now, coaches don't see any
relevance for performance on the track."

Scotswoman Liz McColgan, who won silver in these championships in 1987 and
bronze in 1991, thinks the Europeans can get back in the medal hunt, but a renewed
focus will be required. "I do believe we can beat them," she said of the
Africans who value these championships so highly. "It just goes back to old
training patterns and putting in the hard work," she said.

While certainly not a two-man race, there is little doubt that others hoping to
make the medal stand will key off Bekele and Tadese. Of great interest is the
very young Kenyan team who hope to defend their team title. When Bekele
faltered last year, the Kenyans scored an overwhelming win with a scant 29 points,
to second place Morocco's 152. Bernard Kipyego, the individual bronze medalist
from last year, is back on the team, as are Gideon Ngatuny and Hosea
Macharinyang, who were fourth and fifth last year. Mubarak Hassan Shami, the former
Kenyan Richard Yatich who now runs for Qatar, should also be in the hunt for a
medal.

DIBABA LEADS ETHIOPIAN CROSS COUNTRY MACHINE

Tirunesh Dibaba, who was soundly defeated by Kenyan-born Dutchwoman Lornah
Kiplagat last year, comes to Edinburgh as the women's favorite. Backed up by
teammates Meselech Melkamu and Gelete Burka, third and fourth, respectively, at last
year's championships, the Ethiopians have a good chance of sweeping the
podium.
Dibaba has been training at home in Ethiopia where the winter has been
unusually cold, which may help her with the chilly conditions here. "I want to win,"
she said through a translator. "I want to make them (the Ethiopian fans)
proud." She added: "In Addis it has been cold. Our team will be very strong; we
have Burka we have Melkamu. You will see tomorrow."

# # # # # #

The 36th IAAF World Cross Country Championship kicks off tomorrow with the
Welcome the World 5 km road race at 11:00 followed by the opening ceremony at
12:15. Racing gets underway with the Junior Women at 13:00 (6 km), the Junior Men
at 13:30 (8 km), the Senior Women at 14:05 (8 km) and the Senior Men at 14:45
(12 km).

The all-grass course has one steep hill, rising from 5 to 20 meters in only 100
meters of running. That hill will be done twice in the 6 km and 8 km races,
and four times in the 12 km race. The rest of the course is quite flat.
Footing was very solid this morning, but heavy rain is expected for later today which
could soften the course for tomorrow's races. The course can be expected to
be in the worst shape for the senior men's race which comes last.

Individual gold medalists in the senior races will receive USD 30,000 ($15,000
for silver and $10,000 for bronze), and the winning senior teams will be paid
$20,000.