Team Europe will face the world’s finest at the Great Edinburgh XCountry as Mo Farah headlines the British team for the long-standing fixture held at Holyrood Park on 7 January.
Farah has been almost untouchable on the track since 2011 but the Brit isn’t quite as renowned for his cross country prowess. The demanding terrain and soft underfoot conditions twelve months ago blunted Farah’s usually redoubtable sprint finish and the Brit had to settle for the runner-up spot behind the American Garrett Heath who will be looking to defend his title in Edinburgh next month.
“I have been back in full training for the past few weeks and this event will offer me a good opportunity to measure my fitness and see how training is going ahead of the 2017 track season,” said Farah.
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After leading the British team to the team title at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Chia, Scotsman Callum Hawkins will be looking to start his 2017 season with victory on home soil. Hawkins won an individual bronze medal in Chia behind Turks Aras Kaya and Polat Arikan Kemboi but a more traditional cross country course in Edinburgh should be more to the marathon runner’s liking.
“It will be a great way to kick-start 2017. It’s a good opportunity to compete back on home soil and it’s an event I always enjoy racing in. 2016 has been incredible for me and hopefully I will continue to head in the right direction in the new year,” said Hawkins.
Fellow team champions Andy Vernon, Ross Millington and Dewi Griffiths will also don the British vest in Edinburgh but fourth-placer Andrew Butchart will be missing in order to focus on the indoor season.
After finishing sixth in Chia, Stephanie Twell leads the senior women’s team along with former European cross country champion Gemma Steel who is also a past winner of this race.
Alex Yee and two-time European cross country medallist Harriet Knowles-Jones are the standout names in the junior teams.