Race fans stunned as Bekele slides to defeat

WE shall probably never know exactly why Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele slithered to a shock defeat in the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country in Holyrood Park on Saturday, over much of the course where he won the 2008 World title, but it was certainly a shock of seismic proportions that the double Olympic 5000 metres and 10,000 metres champion could finish only fourth.



Was it the conditions, was it the quality of the opposition with two young Kenyans, Joseph Ebuya and Titus Mbishei seizing the moment to realise their undoubted potential by snatching the first two places or was it that Bekele was perhaps not in the best of shape? The 28-year-old running machine, who is possibly the finest distance runner the world has ever seen, graciously faced his interrogators afterwards and lamely offered the excuse that: "Maybe I made a mistake coming three days before the race as I couldn't train because of the weather."

He would hardly have lost significant fitness in such a short space of time – much more likely is that he is behind in his preparations for what is a relatively fallow year internationally and just did not want to take risks charging down the hill from Haggis Knowe on a slippery surface in vain pursuit of the three Kenyans, the former winner Eliud Chipchoge completing the rout by finishing third over the nine-kilometre course.

But, as baffled observers pointed out, Bekele had lost a shoe in his 2008 World victory at Holyrood and still caught up and won.

By contrast, his countrywoman Tirunesh Dibaba, pictured right, who was also having her first experience of racing in snow, looked supremely in command as she decided the conditions were not too bad and piled on the pressure in the second half of the race to win by ten seconds from the world 5000 metres champion Vivian Cheriuyot of Kenya, who was distinctly unhappy in the snow. "Not good," she gasped.

Third was Kalkidan Gezahegn (Ethiopia), just ahead of two fast-finishing Brits, Hayley Yelling-Higham and Steph Twell.

Scotland's recent "convert" Twell, who claims that Holyrood is her "favourite course in all the world", was quite chipper with her performance despite being pipped on the line.

The 20-year-old Aldershot-based student was outsprinted by European champion Yelling but was still delighted with her fifth spot in a world-class field.

"I felt extremely strong and I just wanted to show that I could mix it with that sort of opposition and I think I've shown that," said Twell, who was bitterly disappointed with her poor showing in last month's European in Dublin.

"That wasn't me in Dublin – that was due to a combination of things including university stress," explained the former European Junior champion.

"But for the last three weeks I've really been a full-time athlete and able to train."

The feisty Twell led the three African medallists going into the last lap of the 6k race.

"Maybe what we did played into Dibaba's hands a little bit – we did the hard work and she got a little bit of a tow but hopefully she'll now know who I am and feel my presence in other races."

Edinburgh's Freya Murray also bravely went with the leaders in the early stages but may have paid the penalty and was forced to drop back on the last lap to finish eighth. "I'm pleased and I'm not – pleased to be in the top ten and pleased I tried to go with them," explained Murray, who left yesterday for some warm weather training in South Africa.

There was another shock when Britain's Mo Farah, the breakaway early leader, was pushed into third place in the men's 4K race and briefly had to have medical attention as he did in the European in Dublin where he fainted and was taken to hospital.

First to take up the chase was Steve Vernon who, in turn, was overtaken by Ricky Stevenson, who produced a storming finish to win in 13:20, with Vernon second in 13:23 and Farah third (13:28).

Central's Robert Russell was first Scot in eighth place in 14:08 with Corstorphine's Dougie Selman 17th (14:52).

John Newsom (Pitreavie) had the distinction of finishing first Scot in the 9k-long course race in 14th place (31:22), a place behind Napier University student Dal Mulhare (31:18).

But perhaps the most encouraging performance of the day from a local viewpoint was another under-17 victory for Ross Matheson (Lasswade).

Whoever is appointed this week to be the new boss of Scottish Athletics will be hoping for a few more Mathesons to emerge between now and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.