THE International Association of Athletics Federations' 32nd edition of the world cross-country will take place in Brussels, Belgium, and Seychelles will be represented by male runners Simon Labiche and Ronny Marie.

Both Labiche and Marie, who are to leave the country on March 16 accompanied by Michel Jean-Louis, are to run the short course race (four kilometres) on March 20.

Labiche, who is making his eighth appearance in the world cross-country, warmed up for the event by taking sixth place in the short course race (four kilometres) of the Southern Region Cross-country competition on Saturday February 28 in Swaziland.

The 33-year-old clocked 12 minutes 25 seconds (12:25).

For his part, Marie, 3,000-metre steeplechase gold medallist at last year's Sixth Indian Ocean Islands Games in Mauritius and national record holder of the four-kilometre race with a time of 11:39.4 set in 2001, did not make the trip to Swaziland because of health problems.

It will be Marie's fifth appearance in the world cross-country.

A record number of 1060 athletes from 87 countries have confirmed their participation in the world cross-country, beating the former highest total of 1045 in Vilamoura, Portugal (in 2000) and Ostend, Belgium (in 2001).

According to Belgian cross-country champion Tom Van Hooste, the Ossegem Park course, in Laeken (Brussels), is tough and one of the most selective courses in the world.

He added that the ground is very slippery even when it doesn't rain.

G. G.