RITZENHEIN AND RUPP LEAD AMERICANS IN BUPA EDINBURGH CROSS COUNTRY TEAM CHALLENGE

Top American stars Dathan Ritzenhein and Galen Rupp will lead their nation's bid for victory in the Men's International Team Challenge at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country on 8 January 2011.

Team Captain, Ritzenhein, and Rupp form a nine-strong United States squad. They will take on the Great Britain and Northern Ireland senior under 23 and under 20 sides, and a European Select Team over eight kilometres in Holyrood Park. Ritzenhein has a world class track profile. A seasoned cross country performer, he has an IAAF World Junior Championships bronze medal under his belt, and won his third National cross country crown earlier this year. Rupp, 24, is one of the most exciting prospects to have ever emerged from the US. This year, the 2008 Olympic 10000 metres finalist has significantly lowered his 3000m, 5000m and 10000m personal bests, his self confidence soaring as a result. Under the guidance of legendary marathon runner Alberto Salazar, winner of three successive New York City victories in the 1980s, the pair have helped spearhead a revival in the flagging distance running reputation of their country. They are both based in Portland, where Salazar's coaching, as head of the Nike Oregon Project is proving highly successful in the race to end the African domination of long distance running. Many world class athletes have visited his training camp, including Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe, who still maintains contact with the Project after spending time there at the beginning of 2010. "Salazar will also be coming to Edinburgh as an ambassador for the event. He sees the first ever staging of the Team Challenge as a welcome and important addition to the global calendar," said Andy Caine, the meeting's elite athletes manager. ”The Team Challenge is a major opportunity to build up standards, in a bid to challenge the ongoing domination of the African nations, particularly Ethiopia and Kenya. "The inclusion of Ritzenhein and Rupp and the overall strength of its side is a clear indication that the Americans are taking this event very seriously. "So too are Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the European Select Team which I know will be announcing very strong contingents later this week." The BBC televised meeting, which is the fourth leg of this winter's IAAF World Cross Permit series, will also feature men and women's international 4km and 6km contests, as well as the Bupa Great Winter Run over 5km and Bupa Junior Great Winter Run (2.5km). USA Team Dathan Ritzenhein (Team Captain) Galen Rupp Scott Bauhs Ed Moran Bobby Mack Stephen Furst Matt Gabrielson David Jankowski One more to be nominated Team Leader Fred Finke Ends Editors Notes Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country 2011- New format The Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country has changed its title for 2011 and was formerly known as the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country. The 2011 Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country will consist of 3 races, with a new International Team Challenge event. • A short 4.2 kilometre course with the best male athletes in the world competing • A 5.7 kilometre event contested by the world’s best female athletes • The International Team Challenge which will see Great Britain and Northern Ireland Senior Men take on the United States and a European Select team over 8 kilometres. Each country competing in the International Team Challenge will consist of nine athletes per team and the first six athletes to complete the course will receive a score based on their position. The team with the lowest overall score wins. Nova International The Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country Run and Bupa Great Winter Run is brought to you by a partnership between the City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland and event organisers Nova International and is sponsored by Bupa. Nova International, headed by Olympic Medallist Brendan Foster is one of the UK’s leading event management and sports marketing agencies. The company’s current brand portfolio also includes some of the biggest running events in the world all based on the Bupa Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon with over 54,000 entries. Nova International was established in 1988 and has a strong sporting pedigree. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Nova has established itself as a market leader in the world of sports marketing and event management. For more information please visit www.greatrun.org. Bupa Bupa’s purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives. A leading international healthcare provider, we offer personal and company health insurance, run care homes for older people and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare. With no shareholders, we invest our profits to provide more and better healthcare. We are committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing. Employing over 50,000 people, Bupa has operations around the world, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand and the USA, as well as Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India, China and across Latin America. For more information, visit www.bupa.com City of Edinburgh Council This event is part of the City of Edinburgh Council's Activcity programme, which promotes sport and physical activity events throughout the city. The Bupa Great Winter Run is a great example of an event which helps the people of Edinburgh to get active! www.eventsedinburgh.org.uk. Edinburgh's sporting calendar for 2011 is shaping up to be truly exhilarating, the Touch Rugby World Cup in June, the Nocture City Centre Cycle Race in July, and the Golden Oldies World Hockey the World Karate Championships in September just a taster of what is on offer. For more information, visit www.eventsedinburgh.org.uk. EventScotland EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org Entry into Holyrood Park is free for spectators and organisers are encouraging the public to take advantage of the opportunity to see the world’s best athletes compete, as well as the cream of young Scottish athletes on show within the main events and the Scottish Inter District Championships. The Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country completes an exciting day of running in Holyrood Park, which starts as hundreds of youngsters take part in the 2.5km Bupa Junior Great Winter Run followed by thousands runners of all abilities taking on the 5km Bupa Great Winter Run. Both events are part of the Bupa Great Run series, organised by Nova International, also organisers of the Bupa Great North Run and the Bupa Great Edinburgh Run. Ends

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