Reigning SPAR European cross country champion Kaan Kigen Ozbilen from Türkiye and European marathon record-holder Sondre Nordstad Moen from Norway are both confirmed for the famous BOClassic Silvesterlauf in Bolzano on 31 December.
The annual race is one of the most popular New Year’s Eve races in Europe and has been awarded a five-star endorsement from European Athletics Running for All. The event takes place on a lapped route through the historic and picturesque centre of Bolzano with events ranging in distance from a 1.25km youth run to the elite men’s 10km.
Ozbilen and Moen arrive in Bolzano fresh from career-defining performances earlier in the month. Ozbilen came from behind to claim the senior men’s title at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Samorin where he also led Türkiye to the team title while Moen fulfilled his junior promise by smashing the European marathon record with 2:05:48 in the Fukuoka Marathon.
Türkiye's Kaan Kigen Ozbilen outlasted Spain's @adelmechaal to claim the senior men's title at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships with @andybutchart91 taking the bronze. pic.twitter.com/vjmCI4egKX
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) December 10, 2017
The manner of Moen’s performance in Fukuoka was impressive as the Norwegian ran a sizeable negative split to break the record of 2:06:36 held jointly by Portugal’s Antonio Pinto and France’s Benoit Zwierzchlewski in only the fourth marathon of his career.
The elite men’s field is headed by Ethiopia’s reigning champion Muktar Edris, who famously defeated Mo Farah for the 5000m title at the IAAF World Championships in London, while European U23 5000m champion Yemaneberhan Crippa is another strong European contender in action.
The women’s race is expected to be a head-to-head between Kenyans Agnes Tirop and Margaret Chelimo although the line-up also includes Emelia Gorecka and Stephanie Twell, who could challenge for a podium finish after helping Great Britain to the team title at the European Cross Country Championships.
Reigning European marathon champion Christelle Daunay from France is also in the line-up while the top domestic name in the field is middle distance specialist Margherita Magnani.
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