Flora London Marathon winners Martin Lel and Irina Mikitenko are both enthusiastic about their return to the capital for the inaugural Bupa London 10,000 metres at the end of the month.
The duo will head a star-studded field competing in a new road race which will use part of the proposed route of the London 2012 Olympic marathon.
Lel, 29, who set a new course record in the marathon after a tense battle with fellow Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru which earned him Olympic Games selection, said: "After winning my third London Marathon title last month, I'm delighted to be coming back so soon for the Bupa London 10,000.
"London is a special place for me and I will be doing my best to become a London champion yet again on May 26."
Highly experienced 10K performer Mikitenko, 35, who was born in Kazakhstan-born and received German nationality 10 years ago, added: "I'm excited about returning to London as the reigning Flora London Marathon champion.
"I hope I can perform just as well here as I did in April and with the same result."
Both champions will face some stiff opposition, however, as they attempt to triumph on a course that starts in Birdcage Walk and takes in Parliament Square, Victoria Embankment, St Paul's Cathedral, the City and Trafalgar Square before finishing in The Mall.
Eritrea's reigning world road running champion Zersenay Tadese and Micah Kogo -- the Kenyan who set a UK all-comers' 10km record in last year's BUPA Great Manchester Run - have both entered.
Europe will be well represented through Sergiy Lebid from Ukraine, Switzerland's Viktor Rothlin and Spain's Chema Martinez.
The British challenge is spearheaded by Mo Farah, who made an excellent 10,000m track debut at the weekend and 2006 Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medallist Dan Robinson.
Mara Yamauchi, Liz and Hayley Yelling and Scotland's Hayley Haining head the British challenge to Mikitenko.
David Bedford, race director of the Flora London Marathon and part of the team behind the Bupa Great Run series, said: "We are delighted to have such strong elite fields for the first ever Bupa London 10,000.
"To have our current Flora London Marathon champions on the start line is a great boost for us in our first year."
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