Defending champion Alex Korio Oloitiptip of Kenya is all set to log horns in a tussle for supremacy with compatriot and 2012 winner Geoffrey Kamworor-Kipsang in the TCS World 10K Bangalore tomorrow.
The Kenyans are expected to dominate the race which will be flagged off from Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Legendary American sprinter Carl Lewis has been roped in as the event ambassador.
India's leading long distance athletes together with a record 25,000 running enthusiasts -- competing in different categories -- will keep them company.
Age is in favour of Kamworor as he, with his latest victory in the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships in Copenhagen in April, is eyeing for the top prize. His Kenyan teammate Peter Matelong, a newcomer here but leading the list with the fastest timing of 27:49, will try to make things tougher for the champions to realize.
In spite of a good line-up, Eritrean Zersenay Tadese's course record which he set in 2008 still looks formidable due to a late morning start of the races.
Kenyan women are trying to match their male counterparts in taking the top places in the last few years. This time also, they would like to repeat their strong show as last year's bronze medalist and former Commonwealth Games champion Lucy Kabuu trying her might with country-mate Helah Kiprop, who won the women's crown in 2012 here.
Kiprop has a better record on Indian soil with a third place in Delhi half-marathon two years ago apart from the golden glow in the inaugural Kochi International Half-Marathon last December. Kabuu was a victor at Delhi in 2011.
Two other Kenyans credited with better personal best timings -- Joyce Chepkirui (30:37) and Linet Masai (30:48) -- may pull a surprise or two in the women's race.
Adding might to the high profile field will be 37 of India's top runners. These include talented B C Tilak who clocked 1:04:45s at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon in 2011, Armyman V L Dangi, who was runner-up at the TCS World 10K Bangalore 2013, Kerala's Soji Mathew, who recorded a 1:05:45s finish at Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon in 2014.
The Indian women's race will see a fight between the brilliant Vijaymala, who was runner-up at the 2014 Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon and finished the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in fourth place with a 1:21 finish, and Priyanka Singh Patel, winner of the 2011 Mumbai Half Marathon.
