November 20 - Former Olympic champion Simon Whitfield (pictured) has entered next week's Canadian Cross Country Championships at Guelph in Ontario in an attempt to emulate his biggest rival, Britain's Alistair Brownlee.

 

Whitfield, who won the first-ever Olympic triathlon at Sydney in 2000, wants to improve his running ability in the build-up to the London 2012 Games where the favourite will be the current world champion Brownlee, whose background is in cross country and who is acknowledged as the strongest runner in triathlon.

 

Whitfield, who also won the Olympic silver medal at Beijing last year and the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002, will be 37 by the time of 2012 but is already focusing on London.

 

He said: "I don't get to race cross country enough and when I do I always remember just how much fun it is.

 

"I have realistic expectations racing nationals, especially with where it fits into the season.

 

"I'd be flattered if people thought I could compete with (Simon) Bairu and company but he is simply too fast for this old triathlete."

 

 

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