Inaugural winner Gete Wami is returning to the Bupa Great Women's Run in Sunderland on Sunday, June 15.

The 33-year-old Ethiopian, who romped to a 10-second victory in the 10 kilometres race ahead of Portugal's Analisa Rosa two years ago, has been in brilliant form ever since that success.

Wami has twice won the Berlin marathon and her second place behind Paula Radcliffe last November in New York saw her crowned the first World Marathon Majors (WMM) title winner, for which she received prize money of US 500,000.

The former world cross country champion and holder of 19 individual and team medals, was very unlucky last month not to win the Flora London Marathon and improve on her runners-up position the previous year.

Wami was looking favourite to pull off her first win in London until falling heavily around 30 kilometres into the race and running in pain for the rest of it, although she would have had to be at her best to beat German winner Irina Mikitenko.

However, the 1999 world 10,000m track champion had the satisfaction of scoring more vital points in the latest WMM series.

Her win in Berlin last autumn and points earned from London saw her establish a 25-point advantage at the top of the leaderboard ahead of Mikitenko and China's Zhou Chunxia.

"Gete provisionally accepted the invitation to run again in Sunderland before London but obviously then needed to have a rest and check she hadn't incurred any after effects from the injury," said Andy Caine, elite athletes manager of the event.

"I think it is great that an athlete of her stature is supporting the Bupa Great Women's Run and it boosts the reputation of what is still a fledgling competition."

Wami will clash with Liz Yelling, who as first Briton home in London was chosen to represent Team GB for a second successive occasion in this summer's Olympic Games marathon.

"More elite names will be announced shortly as runners balance their commitments with those they wish to make on the track," added Caine.

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