Four-time world champion Cheruiyot, Kitwara line up in Puerto Rico

Four-time world champion Vivian Cheruiyot and the most successful man in the history of the race, Sammy Kitwara, lines up at the 18th World’s Best 10k, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, today.

On-the-comeback-trail Cheruiyot, who gave birth to a boy, Allan Kiprono, last October, makes her maiden road race since her 2012 World Best’s 10k win, where she then became the third-fastest woman in the history of the event.

Also winner in 2009 and 2010, the 31-year old is aiming for a fourth crown in San Juan to confirm her as the second most successful woman in the history of the race, behind Dutch Lornah Kiplagat, who claimed seven trophies between 2001 and 2008.

Cheruiyot is expected to face strong opposition from fellow Kenyan and defending champion Mary Wacera, Ethiopia’s 2011 winner Sentayehu Ejigu and another Kenyan, 2009 world 10,000m champion Linet Masai, who has stepped on the podium twice in San Juan, finishing third in 2012 and 2014.

Cheruiyot said after National Police Cross Country Championships: “The tendon injury has healed. I now need to work on speed which, if it picks well in time, I will strive to double in Bejing (World Athletics Championships).”

The star-studded field includes other top 10,000m specialists, including Betsy Saina and Risper Gesabwa and Ethiopia’s world championships bronze medallists Ayalew Wude (in 2009) and Belaynesh Oljira(2013). World cross country championships-bound and 2014 Commonwealth Games 5000m silver medallist Janet Kisa is also in the mix.

Kitwara, who missed the 2014 edition, aims to claim his fifth victory after winning in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013. It will be the first race in 2015 for the 28-year old, who has also been successful in the marathon following his 2:04:28 personal best runner-up performance in Chicago last autumn.

He is expected to relive the duel with countryman Julius Kogo, who followed him across the finish line six seconds later at the 2013 edition. Kogo has shown a fine early season form with his world-leading 28:05 win in Edinburg, Texas, earlier this month.

The battle to crown a new champion features other strong candidates, including Kenya’s world 10,000m bronze medallist Paul Tanui and two other sub-27-minute 10,000m runners: Stephen Sambu and Kenneth Kipkemoi (also third in 2014).