Gebremariam targets 2010 Edinburgh XC triumph in January

World Cross Country champion Gebre Gebremariam will attempt to add the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country (IAAF Permit) to his list of top honours in the New Year, according to the organisers.

The 25-year-old Ethiopian committed himself to what is regarded as the best non-championship event in the world and which again feature Olympic and global title holders on January 9, 2010.

Gebremariam opened his season with a thrilling victory at the opening IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting in Oeiras on Saturday (21 November) when outsprinting Eduardo Mbengani to win the Portugese event by a second.

"It was a hard race for me in wet and windy conditions, so I was very pleased," said Gebremariam who first came to prominence when winning the world junior title seven years ago.

He will lead another star-studded filed over the tough Holyrood Park venue, while the women's race will also feature a field of the same high quality for the BBC televised meeting.

"We have a reputation of attracting only the best to what is a superb venue and which of course hosted the highly successful IAAF World Championships last year," said Andy Caine, the elite athletes manager for the event.

Caine, currently in Melbourne for Sunday's Great Australian Run, added: "When I get back home next week I plan confirming some other major signings and believe me, they include some very big names.

"We are very fortunate that athletes want to run in Edinburgh. It has its own very special attraction for them as it is recognised by them as possibly the most challenging test of the cross country circuit."