Tergat faces a tough test against Baldini and Gharib

Also signed up for the 1 October race are Italy's Olympic marathon winner Stefano Baldini and world half-marathon champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco.

Kenyan's Tergat, 37, won in 2001 but pulled out four days before last year's race with a hamstring injury.

He said: "I've won there before so I know the course, and I'm looking forward to a great race."

Matthew Turnbull, who recruits elite athletes for the event, said: "Getting Tergat, Baldini and Gharib within the space of a few hours and quickly confirming contracts 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 05seconds.

It was beaten earlier this year by Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie in the United States.