Among the women, Ethiopian Dinknesh Mekash leads the field with a personal best of 2:25.09. Dinknesh, runner-up last year here, improved her personal best in Paris 2013 and is expected to clock around 2:25 when she runs here.
She leads a strong Ethiopian contingent with names like Etalemahu Kidane (PB 2:25.49), Asnakech Mengistu (PB 2:25.50) and Aberu Mekuria (PB 2:26.07), who also finished third last year.
The Kenyan challenge will come from Eunice Kales and outsider Gladys Kipsoi, making her full marathon debut. Namibian Helalia Johannes and Ukranian Yuliya Ruban are the other names in the reckoning.
There will be six pacemakers in the men's race and two in the women's race helping the runners keep to course record pace.
