Ugandan runners Felix Chemonges, Olympic Champion Stephen Kiprotich and Goeffrey Kusuro are set to race at the 2021 NN Mission Marathon on April 18.
The elite-only marathon is attracting the best with world record holder Eliud Kipchoge also part of the field for the showdown at Twente Airport in the Netherlands.
Around 70 athletes have been invited with the aim of trying to achieve Olympic qualification times and complete their preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The race had originally been set to take place in Hamburg on 11 April on a closed loop circuit, but local Covid-19 restrictions meant moving it away from the German city.
Kipchoge wants to return with a bang after suffering defeat in a special 2020 London Marathon when he finished 8th – complaining of a blocked ear and hip discomfort.
Kiprotich will be seeking perfection after making fourth place in 1:04:12 last month at the Source of the Nile Half Marathon, Jinja.
The 32-year old last ran an elite marathon on 5th October 2019 at the Doha IAAF World Championships in Athletics. He reached the finsh line 18th in 2:15:04.
Kusuro also returns to the fray after claiming second place in 59:56 at the Santa Pola International Half Marathon, Santa Pola in Spain.
The 2009 World Mountain Running Championships winner’s last elite marathon appearance was a first place finish (2:08:46) at the Kobe Marathon on 17th November 2019 in Japan.
Chemonges completes Uganda’s three for the race and will also be seeking a stellar performance after making ninth place at the 75th Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon in Japan last year.
Action will be live on DStv’s SuperSport – LIVE ON SS 228, 10am. On Friday 16 April, 3:00 p.m. EAT, there will be a press conference with Eliud Kipchoge live on NN Running Team YouTube Channel.