Reigning world marathon champions Luke Kibet and Catherine Ndereba are the first big overseas signings for the BUPA Great Manchester Run on Sunday May 18.
The pair, who both claimed the gold medals in Osaka last summer and led Kenya to team victories, will step down to 10 kilometres over the very fast Manchester course.
Ndereba who will be aiming to improve on the silver medal she won at the last Olympic Games in Beijing this summer, has already undertaken several shorter races in the United States to improve her speedwork.
Last weekend she finished second in the Bloomsday Run, covering the course of just under seven-and-a-half miles in a time of 40 minutes 12 seconds.
The 35-year-old former world-record holder insisted she was happy with her display as she finetunes her training in the build-up to the Olympic marathon in August where her opponents will include Paula Radcliffe.
Kibet, in contrast, had his Olympic plans wrecked after being attacked when riots broke out at his Eldoret home during Kenya's political unrest in January.
Last year's Great South Run champion was hospitalised for several days after receiving a deep wound to his head after being hit by a stone which severely affected his Beijing preparations.
Kibet missed several races because of the injury and the attack almost certainly cost him his Olympic place although the Kenyan selectors named him as reserve after his 11th position in last month's Flora London Marathon.
"There's lots of sympathy for Luke given the circumstances which cost him a lifetime ambition of competing at the Olympics," said Andy Caine, the BUPA Great Manchester Run elite athletes manager.
"But I'm sure he'll be looking towards the future with plenty of confidence and certainly he was very eager to accept the opportunity to come and race here.
"It's also great to have in Catherine one of the world's greatest-ever marathon runners appear in Manchester.
"I'm sure although running under distance she will make an impression in the race."
Caine revealed that both Dan Robinson and Tomas Abyu, the UK's top long distance competitors, will also be in the field.
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