Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir and marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei have been confirmed for the London Marathon to be held on April 23.
The duo will be hoping to return to winning ways after injuries hampered their season last year, forcing Jepchirchir to withdraw from the New York City Marathon while Kosgei pulled out of the London Marathon.
World Marathon silver medallist Judith Korir has also been included in the star-studded field that will feature 10 women who have run inside 2:19 and five who have gone under 2:18 including the defending champion Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia.
Also on the start line will be the 1500m world record holder Genzebe Dibaba and the 2016 Olympic 10,000m champion Almaz Ayana and the reigning Berlin champion Tigist Assefa (ETH), the fifth-fastest women’s marathoner in history.
The reigning Olympic 10,000m and 5000m champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands will be making her debut.
The field will also include Britain’s Eilish McColgan, the reigning Commonwealth Games 10000m champion making her debut, as well as three national record holders: Emily Sisson (USA), Sinead Diver (Australia) and Natasha Wodak (Canada).