News that Dathan Ritzenhein and Galen Rupp would run in a new team component of the Great Edinburgh Cross Country (in Scotland) event on Jan. 8 seemed to come out of left field this week.

Alberto Salazar, who coaches both runners, said he was approached by Ian Stewart, Great Britain’s most renowned track and field event promoter. Brendan Foster, another of the U.K.’s leading track figures, is also associated with the event.

“He said they were having a team event this year and wanted to know if our guys would take part in it,” Salazar said. “I told him it was definitely a possibility.”

The more Salazar thought about it, the more it made sense.

Ritzenhein, who thoroughly enjoys running cross country, is eager to run a few races before ramping up for a spring marathon.

Rupp, who is focused on a big 2011 season on the track, will use the cross country race (his first since the NCAA meet in 2008), as a build up to the indoor season.

“He’ll run it as hard as he can,” Salazar said. “It’s good to test himself as this time of the year. He’ll move down to 3K and 5K indoors. I think it’s good for him to go and compete and be part of the U.S. team.”

And what of Alan Webb?

Salazar said he considered putting Webb in the race, or in the elite 4K race, which features several prominent Kenyans.

“I thought about it,” Salazar said. “But he’s going to run 800s, 1500s and miles indoors. So the race is a little too long. He’s really strong right now and he doesn’t need an over-distance race.”

Ritzenhein and Rupp will be part of a U.S. team that will compete against sides from Great Britain, Northern Ireland senior, under-23 and under-20, and a European Select Team. The race distance is 8K and will be contested at Holyrood Park.

Salazar said the team competition was “a good idea.”

“I think it will make it more exciting for the spectators,” he said.