Reigning champion Edwin Sol of Kenya has confirmed he would participate in the 35th edition of the BOclassic - the international New Year's Eve Run on Bozen's Walther Square in Brixen/Bressanone, South Tyrol, Italy.
The Kenyan lines up his third win in a row of the 1250m long round track, leading through the historical streets of Bozen/Bolzano. Olympic Marathon champion Stefano Baldini also wants to show up again.
Among the women, Silvia Weissteiner is the local hero. The 30-year-old South Tyrolean finished 7th at the World Championships in Berlin and was the best non-African runner over 5000m.
Already for the third time, Weissteiner is the official ambassador of the BOclassic. Athletic director Gianni Demadonna, a former successful participant of the BOclassic, is frenziedly working on bringing further top class athletes to Bozen/Bolzano.
It was in 1975 when several enthusiastic runners of the Läuferclub Bozen searched for a possibility to be active also during the winter season. Following Sao Paolo's model, the New Year's Eve Run in Bozen/Bolzano was originated.
Today, the BOclassic is arguably the best cast New Year's Eve Run in the world.
Organising Committee President Thomas Vonmetz presented the 2009 innovations: "For the first time, we are also going to have a handbiker race.
"This year, timing and data collection is going to be even more professional due to a new partner. As already initiated last year, the event starts on 30th December with a charity event and the number assign."
In the run-up to the elite runs of women (5km) and men (10km), the BOclassic Ladurner Amateur Run (5km) is taking place for the sixth time as well as the Raiffeisen Youth Run in its 27th edition.
The South Tyrolean Bank Raiffeisen has been a main sponsor from the very beginning of BOclassic.
The RAI channel Sender Bozen as well as RAI Sport Più are going to broadcast the event live applying 14 cameras. The run can also be followed on the web (www.raibz.rai.it).
Application forms for the Amateur Run are available on http://www.boclassic.it.