Heath returns to defend his Edinburgh XC title

Garrett Heath will face a strong line-up of major championship medal winners when he returns to Edinburgh to defend the 4km international title in the 2015 Great Edinburgh XCountry race on Saturday, 10 January.

Heath a member of the Brooks Beasts team, was a surprise winner earlier this year when two-time world 1500m champion Abel Kiprop finished third after a win in 2012 and Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele finished fifth. James Magut also finished in the top five in 2014 and the Commonwealth 1500m champion returns 12 months later to line-up as part of a field which also includes Silas Kiplagat.

Reigning world XCountry champion Korir and double 2007 world champion Lagat also line up, as do steeplechasers Jairus Birech and Krystian Zalewski, world junior 5000m champion Yomif Kejelcha, 2006 Commonwealth 5000m champion Augustine Choge, Olympic 5000m bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa and 2008 Olympic 5000m bronze medallist Edwin Soi.

The Great Edinburgh XCountry race, which forms part of the IAAF Cross Country Permit series, takes place at at Holyrood Park and is to be televised live on the BBC from 1pm.