The $2 million dollar event, which has attracted a top field including defending champions Haile Gebrselassie and Bezunesh Bekele, both of Ethiopia, takes place Friday.
“Naturally, we are delighted not only to have our two reigning champions back to defend their crowns but also to have the support of record entries in all three categories,” Event General Co-ordinator Ahmed Al Kamali said in a news release on Thursday.
Kenyan trio Sammy Korir, Shadrack Kiplagat and Daniel Yego are likely contenders for Gebrselassie’s title and challengers for the Ethiopian’s world mark of 2:03.59.
Gebrselassie won the Berlin Marathon for the fourth straight year in September, finishing just over two minutes outside his world record mark after fading in the closing stages.
In the women’s event Bekele will face strong competition from Ethiopian team mate Askale Tafa Magarsa and Helena Kirop of Kenya.
