Edinburgh, Scotland - Already the undisputed greatest cross country runner of all time, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele will enter new record-breaking territory this weekend if he succeeds in regaining the senior men’s title at the 36th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland (30 March). In the headline clash of the four-race programme, against defending champion Zersenay Tadese, from Eritrea, Bekele is seeking to become the first man to win the classic long course title six times.

In the magnificent setting of Holyrood Park, in the shadow of Holyrood Palace, Bekele will attempt to regain his kingship after a year’s enforced absence following Tadese’s shock victory at the 35th Championships in Mombasa last March. Because of his record of 11 World Cross Country individual gold medals (inc. one junior crown), and his return to form after failing to finish in Mombasa, Bekele will start as favourite but Tadese showed when the two met on the same course in January that he will not give up his crown easily.

Since Mombasa, Bekele has retained his 10,000m World title on the track, set a World indoor best for Two Miles (8:04.35), and re-imposed his authority over Tadese with victory in the BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country – IAAF Permit race - on 12 January. While separated by only one second at the end of the 9.3km race - they race over 12km on Sunday - Bekele’s victory appeared more comfortable than the bare results suggest.