|
Jelena Prokopcuka, winner of the recent Osaka Marathon, will challenge
Derartu Tulu for top honours in the BUPA Great Caledonian Run on May 8.
Prokocupka is no stranger to Scottish soil having regularly competed at the
Balmoral Road Races and also in the Great Caledonian Run when it was staged
at the Grampian venue.
Now the Latvian who set a national record of two hours 22minutes 56seconds
when winning the Japanese classic on January 23, aims successfully stepping
down to the shorter 10 kilometres distance.
"She has a good pedigree at the distance and I'm sure will test Tulu on what
isn't an easy course," said Matthew Turnbull, athletics director of the
meeting.
Indeed Prokopcuka in seventh place, was the first European-born finisher in
last summer's Olympic 10000metres where Tulu - a two-times gold medallist -
finished third.
Turnbull also announced top African road runners Boniface Kiprop and John
Yuda will contest the men's race.
"Kiprop's definitely one to watch in the future," said Turnbull of the
19-year-old Ugandan who last summer won the World junior 10000m title before
finishing fourth over the distance at the Olympic Games.
"Given what a 10K on the track takes out of you, to run a second and finish
just outside of a medal position in the space of just over a month and in
the heat of Athens, was a tremendous achievement."
Yuda is no stranger to the Great Run series of meetings, the Tanzanian
having won the BUPA Great South Run two years ago.
"John's a highly experienced competitor from 10000 metres to the marathon
distance and also a natural front runner," he said of two-times World half
marathon bronze medallist.
"He also finished third in the final of the Commonwealth 10000m final when
beaten for the gold medal by just 0.39sec," added Turnbull confident another
great from him around the Edinburgh streets is on the cards.
Entries are still being accepted for the BUPA Great Caledonian Run - and
also for the junior race. It is possible to enter online at www.greatrun.org
or by telephoning the event hotline on 0870
0113337
source GreatRun.org
|
