King Ken Might Not Be Bek

Jan 13 2008 By Mark Woods

KENISA BEKELE scooped his third BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross-Country title - but revealed he could blank a return to the capital for the World Championships in March.

The Olympic and World 10,000 metres champion showed his class to pip rivals Zersenay Tadesse and Eliud Kipchoge with the finish line in sight.

However, Ethiopian Bekele hinted he might not be back to make it world title No.6 on March 30.

Bekele said: "Edinburgh is a fabulous place but I'm not sure I'll be coming back for the World Cross-Country. I will see what my condition is after the World Indoor Championships in Spain in March."

The Valencia tournament will be the first time Bekele has contested the World Indoors Championship after ruling them out of his schedule.

Wherever he may compete in March, Bekele atoned for the shock defeat he suffered at the hands of Tadesse in last year's World Cross-Country.

Bekele waited until the final summit on the course's last hill before racing past his Eritrean and Kenyan rivals to repeat last year's placings with a time of 27 minutes 42 seconds.

Tadesse and Kipchoge finished a second behind sharing the same time.

The country's top cross-country event also saw Bekele's fellow Ethiopian Gelete Burka make it three wins on the bounce in her 6km race.

Burka beta Kenya's Linet Masai by 15 seconds in 19minutes and 58seconds.

But it was 18-year-old Anglo-Scot Steph Twell who impressed. The European junior champion narrowly missed out on third spot to finish fourth.