Deepest ever elite field led by world great Paul Tergat of Kenya -    Irish stars Martin Fagan and Mary Cullen lead strong domestic challenge

Some of the world’s outstanding distance runners will lead off over 10,000 runners in the Great Ireland Run at lunchtime on Sunday next, April 5th in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Kenyan Paul Tergat, former world marathon record holder (2:04:55), five times world cross-country champion and double Olympic silver medalist will face a strong challenge from Ireland’s Martin Fagan (Mullingar Harriers) who is in sparkling form having overtaken John Treacy as national half-marathon record holder (60:57) earlier this month.

Others in an exceptionally strong elite men’s field include: Andrew Carlson (USA), Tom Lancashire (GBR), Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands), Gladson Silva Barbosa (Brazil), Rui Pedro Silva (Portugal) and Oskar Kack (Sweden).

Supporting Martin Fagan’s bid for a first ever home winner will be Mark Kenneally who had a fine run in last weekend’s World Cross Country Championships in Jordan, Vinny Mulvey, Mark Christie, Gary Murray and most of Athletic Ireland’s distance running squad.

The women’s field will be led by Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC), winner of the bronze medal at the European Indoor Athletics Championships 3,000m in Turin last month. Mary also broke Sonia O’Sullivan’s Irish indoor 3k record in February.

Among those in the women’s field is Fernanda Ribeiro (Portugal), former Olympic and world 10,000m champion, Sally Barsosio (Kenya) former world 10,000m champion, Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia) double New York marathon winner, and Ana Dulce Felix (Portugal), 15th in last weekend’s World Cross Country Championships.

Elite Irish women in the field include Deirdre Byrne (11th in European Indoor 3,000m), Rosemary Ryan and Pauline Curley. Linda Byrne has withdrawn due to injury.

Late entries can be made at Lifestyle Sports in Blanchardstown between noon and 9 pm on Friday 3rd, subject to availability. Entries cannot be accepted on Saturday 4th April or on Run day.

The Run begins at 1:05 pm and will be shown live on RTE Two television for 1 hour and 40 minutes.