MOTTRAM PULLS OUT OF EDINBURGH ENCOUNTER THROUGH INJURY

10th January 2007

World Cup 3000 metres champion Craig Mottram struggling with a calf strain, has pulled out of next Saturday's EventScotland Great Edinburgh cross country.

The  head-to-head clash with Kenenisa Bekele in the nine kilometres race was expected to be one of the features of the meeting in Holyrood Park

It would have been Bekele's  first competition against Mottram since he was surprisingly beaten when the Australian retained his IAAF World Cup 3,000 metres title last September in Athens.

Bekele five times the World Cross Country long and short course champion will still have a tough fight on his hands against Eliud Kipchoge and Zersenay Tadesse.

Kenya's Kipchoge who preceded the Ethiopian as Edinburgh race winner two years ago, is in fantastic form at present as is Tadesses of Eritrea, the reigning IAAF World Road Race champion.

"I'm disappointed at missing the best cross country race in the world," said Mottram, struggling with a minor strain which caused him to miss last weekend's Cross Zornotza Internacional event in Spain.

Mottram added:

"The field is loaded and I would have loved to have been there competing against the likes of Bekele, Kipchoge, Tadesse and the rest. Unfortunately though in these situations you have to look after yourself.

 I aggravated my calf muscle in Madrid on New Year's Eve so I'm going to get that seen too and then I will decide what to do over the next few weeks."

The EventScotland Great Edinburgh International Cross Country is free to anyone wishing to spectate, all spectators are advised to arrive before 12.30pm for the start of the first event at 1.05pm.