Paul Tergat's career haul has included two Olympic 10,000m silver medals

Former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat will compete in the Great Ireland Run in Dublin on 5 April.

The 39-year-old is a former marathon world record holder and has two Olympic 10,000 metres silver medals in addition to five world cross country titles.

Tergat has also set several world records on the track and the roads.

"He may now be considered one of athletics elder statesman but he is still ambitious and training hard," said race official Andy Caine.

"I'm delighted Paul accepted the invitation believing he can do himself justice over a distance he is very familiar with.

"But for Haile Gebrselassie, who over the years he has fought some magnificent battles, there is little doubt that he himself rather than his close Ethiopian friend, might have been acclaimed the world's greatest-ever distance runner."

"His record speaks for itself and I'm sure we can expect a great performance from him at the Great Ireland Run."

In-form Irish runner Mary Cullen is already a confirmed entry for the women's event and other major names are expected to be added to the field in the coming days.

The 10K races will take place in Dublin's Phoenix Park.

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