Lynsey Sharp and Laura Muir to form part of a Scotland quartet for the international team relay event at Holyrood Park

Scottish athletes Lynsey Sharp and Laura Muir are to join forces to lead the home challenge in a special international team relay event at the Great Edinburgh International XCountry in Holyrood Park on Saturday January 9.

European and Commonwealth 800m medallist Sharp will team up with world 1500m fifth-placer Muir in a Scotland quartet that will also feature two male compatriots for the 4x1km relay event.

They will be up against teams from the USA, Europe, Great Britain, Wales, England and Ireland, plus a Scotland B quartet.

The event will be separate from the GB v USA v Europe match programme, in which double Olympic, world and European champion Mo Farah will be contesting the men’s 8km for Great Britain.

For Muir, it will be a second taste of relay action in front of the BBC television cameras in Edinburgh. The 22-year-old helped Scotland to third place in a mixed 2x1km race at the 2015 event.

“It was good fun,” she said. “I always love running in front of a home crowd - even more so in a Scotland vest.”

The Great Edinburgh International XCountry is part of a New Year festival for runners of all abilities. The popular Pure Gym Great Winter Run, held on a scenic 5km course that loops around Arthur's Seat, provides the public with a perfect opportunity to dust off the New Year cobwebs before watching the world's best test themselves in the international cross country races.

Entry to the Pure Gym Great Winter Run is available online at www.greatrun.org/winter.