Pictured (L-R) Almensh Belete (Third Place) Mimi Belete (Winner) and Maryam Jamai (Second Place)
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Presseye/Declan Roughan
Former double Antrim International Cross Country champion Fionnuala McCormack will now face the 2014 winner Mimi Belete in Saturday week’s big race at Greenmount.
The inclusion of Bahrain’s Belete means that the race – part of the World Series – now includes three previous winners.
Belete scored a narrow victory over team mate Maryam Jamal in a high quality race at Greenmount two years ago, Ireland star McCormack finishing in fourth place.
Belete (27) is better known as a 5,000m runner, highlighted last summer by a World top 12 time of 15.54.71 plus a place in the World final in Beijing.
Former double European champion McCormack will therefore be fully tested by Belete in any sprint finish over an energy-sapping heavy course.
The quality of the field will present a big challenge for Ulster athletes Kerry O’Flaherty and Emma Mitchell.
The men’s race is also shaping up as one of the best ever with European Junior champion Yeman Crippa of Italy included as well as defending champion Thomas Ayeko of Uganda who also won in 2013.