Fukuoka, Japan - Paul Tergat is scheduled to meet fellow Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru in the 61st Fukuoka Marathon on 2 December 2007.

Tergat, the former World record holder over the distance, will be contesting his first marathon since London in April, while there is massive interest in Wanjiru's participation.

World Half Marathon record holder Wanjiru will be making his debut over the full distance. His entry is confirmation that he is again fully fit after a hamstring injury wrecked his hopes of winning last month's IAAF World Road Running Championship title in Udine, Italy.

Wanjiru, who lives for most of the year in Japan, will be aiming to impress on his debut and, apart from Tergat, faces some tough opposition from the host nation’s competitors.

The race is the first in the selection procedure of the Japanese team for next year's Olympic Games in Beijing.

National record holder Toshinari Takaoka, who was 4th in the 2005 World Championships, course record holder Atsushi Fujita, Shigeru Aburaya, fifth at the last Olympics, and Takayuki Matsumiya who holds the World record for 30km will be aiming to impress the selectors.

Dave Martin - PA International - for the IAAF