African champions want cross country back in Olympics

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The IAAF is looking into a request by three African long distance greats to bring cross country running back to the Olympics. Ethiopians Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie have joined Kenya's Paul Tergat to write the International Olympic Committee and the International Association of Athletics Federations to reintroduce the race last run at the 1924 Olympics. An earlier attempt to bring cross country to the winter games has already been defeated. IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said Wednesday: "Now the question is whether we will seek entry into the summer games for cross country." Even the IAAF considers cross country a key part of its winter program so it is unclear under what conditions they could push for it to come back to the already bloated summer program. – AP