Derrick, Heath and Gorecka Triumph at Great Edinburgh XCountry

Published by IAAF on January 10, 2015

American runners Garrett Heath and Chris Derrick repeated their success of 12 months ago when they ran out as winners again at the Great Edinburgh XCountry, an IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting, on Saturday (10).

Heath won over 4km in the Scottish capital’s famous Holyrood Park, the venue for the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, while Derrick defended his title over 8km.

However, there was plenty for the home crowd to cheer during the women’s 6km race as Great Britain’s Emelia Gorecka put behind her a disappointing outing at the European Cross Country Championships last month to get a surprise win.

Heath was the first to take the plaudits.

Kenya’s 2008 Olympic Games gold medallist and two-time world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop led during the early stages of the race, picking his way through some of the deeper mud passages, but the pace was pedestrian enough for the likes of Heath, fellow American Dathan Ritzenhein and Great Britain’s Tom Lancashire to follow him comfortably.

By halfway, Kenya’s reigning World cross country champion Japhet Korir and his compatriot Thomas Longosiwa had got back in touch with the leaders and fellow Kenyans Augustine Choge and Jairus Birech were closing on the leaders as well.

However, the picture changed once Heath went to the front at the start of the second 2km lap with only Korir for company as the other started to drop back.

Much to many people’s surprise, it was the American who proved the stronger.