By Bob Ramsak

Kenenisa Bekele underscored his stature as the world's best cross country runner with a dominating display to retain his title at the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country race on Saturday.

Running against piercing winds in muddy conditions, the 24-year-old Ethiopian solidly defeated the finest field of runners assembled so far this season.

Bekele, the five-time defending double world cross country champion, broke from the field just 18 minutes into the 9.3 km race en route to a 10 second victory over Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse, this year's world road running champion.

"I knew it was going to be a strong race, so I prepared really well," Bekele said. It was his 26th consecutive cross country victory, a streak that began on December 29, 2001.

Citing a lack of motivation, Bekele has indicated repeatedly that he would not defend his title at the next world championships, scheduled for March 24 in Mombasa, Kenya.

He repeated that stance while suggesting he would only change his mind if "something special" arose, though he did not elaborate.

Another Ethiopian, the world short course champion Gelete Burka, alo retained her title in the women's race.

Running more conservatively in the dismal conditions she made the decisive move with about 600 metres left en route to a nine second victory over Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot.

"The wind was so strong," said Burka, who last year followed up her Edinburgh win with a victory in the short course race at the World Cross Country Championships. "These were the worst conditions I have ever run in."

Cheruiyot outsprinted Australian Benita Johnson, the 2004 world champion, to finish second.

Sergey Lebid of Ukraine, a six-time European champion, won the four km race after kicking past Briton Mo Farah with less than 200 metres left.

"He was on my shoulder the whole way," said Farah, who upset Lebid at last month's European Championships. "And he was better on the day."