The other leading men in the fray are Ethiopian Lilesa Desisa, runner-up the Delhi Half Marathon, Kenyan Micah Kogo, who has clocked the second fastest 10km ever, and South African champion Stephen Mokoka.

The elite women’s field will be led by Asslefech Mergia of Ethiopia, runner-up last year and winner of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2010. Also in fray will be Kenyan Grace Momanyi, joint winner in 2008, who had finished third last year.

Kenyan Edna Kiplagat, winner of the New York Marathon 2011 and Ethiopians Koren Yal, winner of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2011 and Dire Tune, former winner of the Boston Marathon are the other leading women in fray.

Ethiopian Ejigayehu Dibaba, the 10000M silver medalist at the Athens Olympics and sister of the great Tirunesh, is also expected to line up.

According to Ian Ladbrooke, Elite Athletes’ Coordinator, the field for both the men and women is the strongest ever.

Mbishei is in great form, having clocked a personal best of 27.32 while winning the Marseille 10K on May 1. Kipsiro, who won the 5000M-10,000M double at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, will be looking to go one better than his second position finishes in 2010 as well as in 2008.

Other athletes expected to push the pace in the men’s race are Kenyan Philomen Limo, who clocked a personal best of 27:35 at the Marseille 10K, Tanzanian Ezikiel Jafari (PB 27:39), Ethiopian Azmeraw Bekele (PB 27.43) and Kenyan Leonard Langat (PB 27:50).