The event, which signals the start of the British Athletics Cross Challenge series, doubles up as the inaugural event in the new World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold calendar, which was unveiled earlier this year to replace the challenge and permit series.

The Cross Country Tour is, per World Athletics, "expected to have stops in North America, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Europe and will incorporate many of the world’s biggest and most prestigious cross-country meetings that have been part of the Cross Country Permit series in recent years."

Athletes will compete in various meets throughout the year and earn cross country ranking points based on their relative finishes.

For the opener of the season, competition is expected to be dominated by domestic athletes.

Arter will face competition from compatriot and 2014 European cross silver medallist Kate Avery and fellow Briton Jenny Nesbitt.

Cardiff-based runner Jake Smith leads the men's start list after his win in 2019.

Smith provided pacemaking duties at the London Marathon this month and will face competition from Ethiopa's Omar Ahmed and Kadar Omar, who race for Birchfield Harriers.

The former made headlines recently when he accidentally won the Bristol Half Marathon after entering the 10-kilometre race but taking a wrong turn and running the half marathon instead,

British steeplechaser Zak Seddon, who competed in the event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, will also be a part of the field.

The next event in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold calendar is scheduled to be the Cross Internacional Zornoza in Amorebieta in Spain on October 24.