Bekele targets World records in 2010

Ethiopian star Kenenisa Bekele is looking forward to breaking the 5000m and 3000m indoor and outdoor world records in 2010.

Bekele will kick off his season at the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country 9km race at Holyrood Park tommorrow and seemingly unfazed by the freezing and snowy conditions, said If he has a good chance, he would try for the world record.

The 27-year-old, a former three-time winner of the race, also said he had no intention to move up to marathon now and in the forseeable future.

"My target for 2010 is to break a new world record, maybe some distance. I think maybe in 5000m and 3000m both outdoor and indoors.

"Normally this year is a great time for me to try for the world record, because after this year I don't think to try in the future middle distance race," Bekele said.

"Actually it is not always 23 degrees in Ethiopia, sometimes in the morning it is 10 degrees so I train in that weather. I ran in Scotland in the snow five years ago so I know I can do it. I 'll try my best," he added. 

World cross country champion Gebre Gebremariam [Ethiopian], former world junior 10,000m champion Michael Kipyego, 2005 winner Eliud Kipchoge [both Kenyans] and Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Boniface Kiprop [Ugandan] are all expected to challenge Bekele.

Organisers have assured that the race will go ahead on Saturday, even if they have to resort to using another route. Whilst many roads around the Holyrood Park, the Edinburgh Council intend to bring in a snow plough and gritter before the race to clear this route.

BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country is the fourth of twelve IAAF XC Permit races in the 2009/10 season