Luke Kibet on his way to victory at the 2007 Great South Run (© Mark Shearman)
2007 World marathon champion Luke Kibet, after a lean spell, is aiming to regain his BUPA Great South Run title in Portsmouth, UK, next weekend.
The BUPA Great South Run is an IAAF Gold label Road Race.
Kibet who was third last year returns to the English south coast venue next Sunday (25) for the 20th edition of the 10 Miles which he won two years ago.
The 26-year-old Kenyan on that occasion was in a vintage streak of form having earlier surprisingly claimed the World Championships marathon gold medal with a runaway victory in Osaka. Unable to defend his World title in Berlin two months ago because of fitness doubts, he is now rebuilding his career and the Great South Run will be a critical stepping stone in his comeback.
In opposition to Kibet, Mo Farah, the UK's leading distance runner, will move up in distance in a rare appearance over 10 miles, while Martin Fagan of Ireland, the runner-up 12 months ago, is also returning.
Fagan recently confirmed he is back to his best form after an Achilles injury, winning the recent Boston half marathon in 62:21 seconds, just a second slower than the course record.
Two-time World marathon champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Australia's 2004 World Cross Country champion, Benita Willis, head the women's field as part of the Bupa Great South Run's record entry of 21,000 runners.
Nicola Hedley (NOVA) for the IAAF
