Farah Beaten As Heath Secures Hat-Trick in Edinburgh

Published by IAAF on January 9, 2016

Garrett Heath’s first win at the Great Edinburgh X Country two years ago came as something of a shock. He surprised his opponents again one year later when he successfully defended his title, yet few would have put money on him beating double world champion Mo Farah and winning for a third time on Saturday (9).

But that is exactly what the US distance runner did at Holyrood Park, handing Farah his first cross-country defeat since 2010 in what was the double Olympic champion’s first race of 2016.

In the last race of the day, and after a heavy shower of rain half an hour earlier, the course for the men’s 8km event around Arthur’s Seat was choppy and muddy. Understandably, the race got off to a cautious start with a large group covering the first lap in 6:19.

Farah was buried deep within the pack, while Heath was near the front, just a stride to two behind early leader Callum Hawkins of Great Britain.