The BUPA Great South Run takes place in Southsea, Portsmouth this Sunday, and will see a number of Ethiopian athletes competing among the 16,500 runners taking part, including two-time Olympic 10,000 metres champion Derartu Tulu, who is the favourite to win the 10 mile race.

Derartu, who has recovered from the heavy cold that caused her to struggle during the World Half-Marathon Championships last week, may well try to break the 51 minute course record. Among her main rivals will be compatriot Elfnesh Alemu, who came fourth in last summer’s Olympic marathon.

“It isn’t going to be easy to win, but I will try my best” said Derartu.

Also competing in the run, which starts at 10:30am on Sunday, will be Gezahegne Abera, the first man to win both the Olympic and World marathon titles. The Great South Run will be his first steps back into competitive running, following an Achilles injury at the World Championships in Paris in 2003, which led to nearly two years of inactivity and his withdrawal from the London Marathon in April this year; a race he won in 2003.

ENDS