Dathan Ritzenhein of the US wins the Belfast Cross Country (© Mark Shearman)
Both reigning champions return to the Belfast International CrossCountry, the first IAAF Cross Country Permit Meeting of 2006, on Saturday 7 January.
Ritzenhein, Cragg and Kosgei - men's race
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA) was an impressive winner over the 9k course at the Stormont Estate last year and went on to win the US 10Km road title, while former World junior cross country bronze medallist Etalemahu Kidane of Ethiopia also hopes to repeat her success of 12 months ago.
Ritzenhein takes on the usual contingent of Africans but many eyes will be on Alistair Cragg, the Irish indoor record holder at 3000m and 5000m, and the reigning European Indoor champion at 3000m.
It was a year ago that Cragg, 25, beat the great Kenenisa Bekele over 3000m indoors at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games and his presence in Belfast over a course likely to be very muddy in places should attract a good-sized crowd to the event.
Kenya has a fine record in Belfast and 19-year-old Barnabas Kosgei will be hoping to continue their excellent tradition and improve upon his third place of last year, when he was just one second behind Ernest Meli.
Kosgei went on from last year’s race to take bronze in the junior race at the World Cross Country Championship and he will be expected to figure highly on Saturday.
It is 16 years since Kenya last failed to provide a runner in the first three in Belfast and during that time the likes of Paul Tergat, Ismael Kirui, Ondoro Osoro and James Kariuki have tasted victory there.
One Kenyan legend who had to settle for second on the course, though, was one of the world’s greatest ever cross country runners, John Ngugi, who was beaten by former London Marathon winner Eamonn Martin in 1991 – the last British man to win the race.
Ngugi’s former manager John Bicourt is now involved in putting the elite field together for Belfast and he has assembled a line-up to test Ritzenhein and Kosgei.
Ugandan teenager Moses Kipsiro, Eritrean Samson Kilfemariam – eighth in Brussels just before Christmas – and Ethiopian steeplechaser Tewodros Shiferaw are others expecting to run well.
Tough task for Kidane - women's race
The women’s race, held over a 5.6Km course, sees 2004 African 5000m champion Kidane heading a strong Ethiopian trio. Derebe Alemu and Ashu Kasim will be hoping to give their country a clean sweep of the podium places but, just like in the men’s race, many eyes could be on an Irish challenger.
Jolene Byrne made a big impression with her front-running tactics last year before finishing fifth and the World Student Games 5000m bronze medallist has already won the Irish Inter-Counties Cross-Country title this winter.
Cristelle Daunay has already helped France to team bronze at the European Cross Country Championships this winter while British four-mile road record-holder Kate Reed will also be looking for a good run.
Bob Frank for the IAAF
