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World marathon record-holder Paul Tergat is aiming to chalk up a second success at the BUPA Great North Run on October 1.
The 37-year-old Kenyan star, sidelined from competing by injury a year ago, is under no illusions adding to his 2001 victory, isn't going to be easy.
Organisers today announced the first wave of star names running in the Tyneside Classic, and it includes three of the world's greatest-ever distance runners.
Italy's Stefano Baldini the Olympic marathon champion and Jaouad Gharib the Moroccan winner of a second successive world title over the distance last summer, will join Tergat in the 13.1miles event.
The trio of superstars with more names to be announced later, promise to be make the world's biggest half marathon race another hotly contested competition.
Tergat in particular is delighted to be returning to the north east after a hamstring injury caused him to pull out of chasing another victory in last year's event.
"I'm happy to come to Newcastle and compete in what will be my final serious race before my autumn marathon," said Tergat, a runaway winner by over a minute five years ago.
"I was disappointed to miss last year through injury, so I'm really looking forward to the race," added the former world record holder for the half marathon distance.
Tergat, unfazed that Baldini and Gharib will be two of his main rivals, added: "I've competed and won there before so I know the course, and I am looking forward to what should be a great race"
Matthew Turnbull, responsible for recruiting elite athletes for the event, confirmed the three big signings after attending the IAAF Super Grand Prix meeting in Lausanne on Tuesday night.
Turnbull said: "The most positive sign for me is the fact that athletes are actually requesting a place in the race, which says plenty for its global reputation.
"Being offered Tergat, Baldini and Gharib within a space of a few hours by their agent's and quickly confirming contracts for the race, is a huge bonus.
"I still have to recruit some other big signings but the fact the stars now know the course is a very fast one, encourages them to want to run in the GNR."
Last September Zersenay Tadesse, produced what was the world's fastest-ever half marathon time of 59minutes 05 seconds, until earlier this year it was beaten by Ethiopian ace, Haile Gebrselassie in the United States.
This year will see the 26th staging of the world’s biggest half marathon with 50,000 entrants. The event will once again be televised in a live 4 hour broadcast on BBC TV.
Source Great North Run
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Time-to-Run
UK
