Wanjiru, London winner in 2009 and runner-up in 2008, had to drop out of this year's race because of a knee injury, but he will be seeking to regain his pre-eminence in the capital.

Kebede finished just nine seconds outside Wanjiru's course record of 2:05:10 in becoming only the second Ethiopian winner of the event.

But such is the quality of the 2011 field that the fastest PBs belong to two other Kenyans – the Rotterdam and Berlin champion Patrick Makau, fourth fastest in history with 2:04:48, and world champion Abel Kirui, fifth in London this year, who has a best of 2:05:04.

All six medal winners from this year's race are due to toe the line on April 17 next year.

Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya and Jaouad Gharib of Morocco are confirmed for the men's race, while the women's one-two-three of Liliya Shobukhova, fellow Russian Inga Abitova and Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia have also been signed up by international race director Dave Bedford.

With six men in the field quicker than 2 hours 6 minutes, and no fewer than 14 women with sub-2:24 personal bests, Bedford maintains the 2011 spectacle - which features both Olympic and world champions, World Marathon Majors champions and recent winners in Berlin, Chicago and New York - will rival any previous offering.

According to Bedford the women's field is "undoubtedly our strongest ever", while the men's "rivals any of those we've put together in the last few years".

"We certainly expect the men's course record to be under threat again," added Bedford, "while the women's race looks likely to be one of the most competitive we've ever had."


Shobukhova (pictured with Kebede) will undoubtedly start as favourite in the women's race.

She completed a brilliant year in October when she broke the Russian record to win the Chicago marathon and claim the women's World Marathon Majors prize.

Shobukhova took the London crown from Irina Mikitenko, the 2008 and 2009 champion who dropped out in 2010 after struggling with an injury.

But the German will be back to challenge Shobukhova again along with 2007 champion Zhou Chunxiu, the Chinese woman who recently retained her Asian Games title.

Mara Yamauchi will again carry British hopes.

Runner-up in 2009, Yamauchi is hoping to make up for her disappointing 10th place this year – after an epic, energy-sapping six-day journey to avoid the volcanic ash cloud – and a below par performance in New York last month when she was 13th.

The Japan-based Briton will be keen to get back on track against such a high quality international field.

London will also welcome back British Olympian Liz Yelling for the first time since 2008, while two seasoned British internationals make their marathon debuts.

Yelling will be joined by her sister-in-law Hayley Yelling, the former European cross country champion, while Jo Pavey also makes her first outing over 26.2 miles.

After an encouraging eighth place last year, Andrew Lemoncello returns in the men's race aiming to improve his personal best.

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