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Linda Byrne, Kenenisa Bekele and Mark Kenneally ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
Gold Blend

Just my cup of tea: Ethiopian long distance champion jets in for Great Ireland Run

Kenenisa Bekele will look to prove his Olympic running credentials when he competes at the Phoenix Park on Sunday

IRISH SPORTS FANS will get the chance to see a double-Olympic champion in action on Sunday when Kenenisa Bekele takes part in the Great Ireland Run.

The reigning Olympic Gold Medalist at 5,000 and 10,000 metres will compete against European runners such as Nick Mccormick, Jesus Espana and Mark Kenneally (of Ireland).

Bekele was in Dublin on Friday to scout out the 10 kilometre course and to pose for promotional pictures, with Kenneally and Linda Byrne, for the annual race, which is sponsored by Spar.

“My training has been going well and I have lost the extra weight that I was carrying,” he told IAAF. “So it is very good that I can come here and have a hard race. We’ll see how it goes but I’m feeling good.”

Irish hopefuls

The top Irish hope in the race will be Mark Kenneally, who will be present at London 2012 after securing an Olympic standard qualifying time.

Kenneally has also been bestowed with the honour of being one of the Olympic torch-carriers when the famous flame comes to Dublin on June 6.

Byrne, who was present at the photoshoot, and Maria McCambridge will take part in the women’s 10-kilometre run at the Phoenix Park.

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