British internationals Kathy Butler and Liz Yelling will be chasing fast times when they compete at the Chicago Marathon on October 7.

Benita Johnson, who set an Australian record of two hours 22 minutes 26 seconds in finishing third in last year's race, heads the field.

Butler finished ninth last October in 2hrs 28mins 39secs, her fastest marathon in the Windy City, while Commonwealth bronze medallist Yelling achieved her PB of 2:30.44 when eighth in April's Flora London Marathon.

Both Britons will be aiming to impress selectors with fast times in the build-up to next year's Olympic Games in Beijing.

Race director Carey Pinkowski believes Johnson, who finished a disappointed seventh in London, has the credentials to win in Chicago.

"Benita is relatively new to the marathon distance but has quickly established a reputation for herself by tackling three of the top competitions in the world in Chicago, New York and London," he said.

Johnson, who made her debut in the 2004 New York marathon, delivered her best marathon performance a year ago in less than ideal weather conditions,

The 28-year-old London-based Australian has had a good build-up to next month's challenge, posting a fast 10km time over a hilly course in Sheffield earlier this month.

Then after her success in the BUPA Great Yorkshire Run, she was runner-up to Ethiopia's Olympic and world 5,000m champion Meseret Defar in last Sunday's Hydro-Active Women's 5km road race in London's Hyde Park.

Sporting Life / Eurosport