The 36th edition of the international New Year's Eve run BOclassic in Bozen/Bolzano may more than ever be considered as the best cast in the world with Vivian Cheruiyot, Imane Merga and Edwin Soi in action.
Europe's top runner, Mo Farah from Great Britain, will duel with Olympic bronze medallist and BOclassic titleholder Edwin Soi, the Diamond League winner Imane Merga and record winner Serhiy Lebid.
The women's run has never been better cast than this year. With Vivian Cheruiyot, the current 5000m world champion is coming to Bozen/Bolzano.
The elite runs for women (5 km) and for men (10 km) are going to start at 3 pm on 31 December. The national TV channel Rai Sport 1 broadcasts live from Walther Square from 2.45 onwards.
Today, athlete's director Gianni Demadonna was able to present an exquisite starter field.
"With the men, we have the first five of last year with us. This is going to be highly exciting."
The Olympic bronze medallist Edwin Soi from Kenya is shooting for his fourth victory in a row. However, Soi has to be careful.
The WC fourth-placed Merga from Ethiopia captured the overall victoy in the Diamond League this year. He is thus the best 5000m runner of the year.
In the Corrida de Houilles in Paris of last Sunday he distanced himself clearly from Soi. The spectators may also be eager to see the British superstar Mo Farah.
The newly double european champion was already third in last year's edition. 2010 was Farah's best season of his career so far.
Record winner Serhiy Lebid (5 victories) demonstrated with his ninth ECCC-title two weeks ago his top form. Furthermore, Silas Kipruto, the WC's half marathon fourth will also show up.
Cheruiyot leads
The women's run is even stronger cast. " This surely is the best women's run which Bozen/Bolzano has ever seen" says Demadonna self-confidently.
With Vivian Cheruiyot from Kenya the currently best 5000m runner of the world is coming to Bozen/Bolzano. The African champion and world best of the year is the absolute favorite.
Cheruiyot has to repel the attack of Junior World champion and last year's winner Gedo Utura, the WC third Priscah Jepleting Cherono, the best marathon runner of the world in 2008 and 2009 Irina Mikitenko from Germany, the BOclassic winner of 2006 Aniko Kalovics as well as last year's second and third placed Sonja Roman and Christelle Daunay.
One may be curious how local hero Silvia Weissteiner will finish her comeback after 13 month of injury lay-off. In WC of Berlin in 2009 she finished seventh as best European.
Altogether, more than 50 athletes of 14 different nations and 3 continents are participating on the elite run.
Up to 15,000 spectators are going to be expected in South Tyroleans biggest "lounge" and along the track. The weather forcast predicts sunshine and mild temperatures.
The race will broadcasted live by the Italian TV channel Rai Sport 1 (also via satellite) from 2,.45 pm onwards. The run may also be followed via livestreaming on http://www.raibz.rai.it.