Edwin Soi persues New Year's Eve Run Record

On the end of the year, South Tyroleans capital Bozen/Bolzano offers again a fabulous athletics firework. Titleholder and Olympic bronze medalist Edwin Soi as well as the German Marathon ace form the starting line-up at the international New Year's eve Run Boclassic. The 36th edition of this world class event was presented today.

It was in 1975 when several enthusiastic runners of the Läuferclub Bozen were looking 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. "Bozen's Waltherplatz will again become South Tyrolean's biggest lounge; we will again bring forth a TOP New Year's Eve Run" says the new OC-president Gerhard Warasin during today's presentation.

Athletic manager Gianni Demadonna has already snagged some stars. The Olympic bronze medalist Edwin Soi from Kenya is shooting for his fourth victory in a row, persuing thus record winner Serhiy Lebid. The Ukranian is the only one to have won the BOclassic five times. First star in the women's field is Irina Mikitenko. The 38-year-old German was best Marathon runner in the world in 2008 ad 2009 and winner of the Berlin an London Marathon. Furthermore the Kazakh-born was already fifth and seventh in Olympic games. Mikitenko will be excited about the fantastic atmosphere in the historical town of Bozen. The Organisers make a frenetic effort to entice last year's third and double European Champion Mo Farah, Britain to come to Bozen/Bolzano.

The Läuferclub Bozen is the event's organiser. "The BOclassic is supposed to become again a big athletics festival. The New Year's Eve Run offers a unique possibility to unite world class, amateur and youth runners," says vice-president Christop Brandt in today's press conference. In the run-up to the elite women's run (5 km) and men's run (10 km), the BOClassic Ladurner Amateur Run (5 km) takes place for the 7th time, the Raiffeisen Youth Road Run takes already place for the 28th time and the Handbike Race is held for the 2nd time.

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. Speaker will again be Bozen's mayor and athletics expert Luigi Spagnolli.