Kenya's Peter Langat and Belaynesh Tsegaye of Ethiopia will lead their respective fields at the Vidovdan Road Race 10km, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, in Brcko, Bosnia and Hercegovina, on Saturday (24) evening.
Langat, just 18, is the fastest man in the field, courtesy of his 27:57 in Casablanca on 7 May. A week later he took his first victory of the year, carving out a one-second victory in Zegota, Poland, in 28:49.
Tesfaye Anbesa Lencho of Ethiopia returns to action after his runner-up finish in the IAAF Bronze Label Road Race in Langueux, France, last weekend, where he clocked 28:44, one second behind the winner.
Meanwhile, Anbesa's compatriot Derara Hurisa also returns to action after his outing in Langueux where he finished sixth with a 28:52 personal best. In April, the 19-year-old finished second over the half marathon distance in Shanghai, clocking 1:01:45, also a lifetime best.
Leading the European charge will be Ahmed El Mazoury of Italy, a sub-29 man (28:57, 2015) at his best, who won the Leiden 10km in May, clocking 29:27.
On the women's side, Tsegaye will prove difficult to beat.
The 20-year-old is off to good start this year over the distance, winning in Casablanca with a personal best of 32:09 on 7 May, collecting another victory in Zegota the following week and more recently finishing second in Langueux in 32:34.
Ugandan Doreen Chemutai, also 20, was fifth in the Okpekpe, Nigeria race in May, but more recently couldn't finish better than 16th in Langueux where she nonetheless clocked a 34:32 personal best.
The field also includes Kenyan Leonidah Mosop who returns to action after her fifth place finish in Langueux where she clocked 32:47, 19 seconds shy of her career best set in 2014.
Most eyes will however be on Serbian star Olivera Jevtic, the former European championships marathon silver medallist and five-time cross country bronze medallist at the continental level, who'll be contesting her first 10km of the year. The 39-year-old set the race record of 32:04 back in 2008. While several years have passed since she's exhibited similar form, Jevtic is still winning races, most recently at the Belgrade Marathon where she clocked 2:38:03.
Both race records have proven difficult to beat. The men's standard of 28:11 has stood nearly as long as the women’s, set by Kenyan Gordon Mugi in 2010.
Proceeds from the race will help fund child nutrition programmes in local day cares and schools.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
