Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele will be a rock-solid test for Disi Dieudonne at the forthcoming world cross country title in Edinburgh, Scotland.

It is said that the Olympic and world 10,000m champion who missed out on the record in Mombasa last year after struggling with the intense heat and humidity will bid to land a record sixth World Cross Country title when the race unfolds next month.

The Ethiopian long distance icon is keen to put last year’s setback behind him when he races in Edinburgh on Sunday, 30 March.

"I was deeply disappointed at what happened in Mombasa and I am determined to get the title back,” he was quoted in a local newspaper back in his native Ethiopia.

"Winning for a world time for a sixth time means very much to me and I feel the conditions in Edinburgh will suit me much more than they did last year in Mombasa,” the 25-year-old added. 

Bekele suffered after-effects for several weeks following the race but bounced back in the summer to win a third successive world 10,000m title. After competing in two events this year; the Puerto Rico half marathon and the RAK International Half Marathon in Dubai, Disi is yet to hit last year’s form that saw him register three podium performances including the Vodafone Delhi Half-Marathon.
Ends