Defending men's and women's champions Andamlak Belihu and Tsehay Gemechu on Friday made their intentions clear that they will go for the course records in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon here on Sunday.
The 15th edition of the ADHM will see one of the best fields of international elite athletes with seven sub-60 minute runners among men and nine sub-70 minute runners among women.
An athlete finishing a men's half marathon in less than 60 minutes is considered world class. In the women's half marathon, a runner who can complete it in 70 minutes is considered top class.
Ethiopian Belihu had won the ADHM, a prestigious IAAF Gold Label Race, last year with a time of 59 minute 18 seconds and he said a course record on Sunday cannot be ruled out.
"It is possible to run better than the course record on Sunday. I am in good shape and India has been a happy place for me," said the 20-year-old, who had finished second in his debut season, in 2017.
"It was a little frustrating just missing out on the course record last year but after running here in the last two years, I have experience and think I know what it takes to run faster. The most important thing is to win but if the pace is good, I can beat the course record."