Newcastle, UK - Multiple-World champion Tirunesh Dibaba will be aiming to keep the BUPA Great North 3km in Ethiopian hands this Saturday (29).

The brilliant 21-year-old African star has now recovered from the fall and the stomach problems it caused when successfully defending her World 10,000 metres last month in Osaka.

Dibaba, who has not run since that final on 25 August, is now preparing for this weekend's 3km race on the roads around the Newcastle-Quayside course, which won brilliantly last year by her compatriot Meseret Defar. The Olympic 5000m champion, put on a memorable solo display, winning by over 20sec, in 8:46.9.

Dibaba is unlikely to enjoy that measure of victory, indeed the presence of Kenya’s World 5000m silver medallist Vivian Cheruiyot, the second fastest runner all-time at the track 5000m  is likely to test her to the limit.

The 23-year-old Kenyan comes to Tyneside in mint condition, last Saturday winning the 5000m at the World Athletics Final, and then the following day placing runner-up behind Defar over 3000m.

"Her time on Sunday was a personal best of 8:28.66, so she clearly isn't feeling the effects of a long hard season," said Matthew Turnbull the event's elite athletics director. "She also took the 5000m silver medal behind Defar at the Worlds', so clearly she has all of the credentials to make it a very tough race for Dibaba."

Former Commonwealth 1500m bronze medallist Helen Clitheroe and Hattie Dean who three-times this year has broken the British 3000m steeplechase record, head the domestic challenge.

Nicola Hedley for the IAAF

Personal bests:

Tirunesh Dibaba ETH
3000m - Outdoor  8:29.55 (2006); Indoor  8:33.56 (2004)
5000m - Outdoor 14:30.40 (2006); Indoor 14:27.42  WR  (2007) 
5km Road - 14:51 (2005)
10,000m - Outdoor  30:15.67 (2005)

Vivian Cheruiyot  KEN
1500m - Outdoor  4:06.65 (2007)
3000m - Outdoor  8:28.66 (2007)
5000m  - Outdoor  14:22.51  NR (2007)
10km Road - 32:08 (2007)