The 2016 World Under-20 10,000m champion Rodgers Kwemoi will make his first half marathon appearance this year at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon, a World Athletics elite event, on August 27.
Kwemoi had a successful outing last season, reigning supreme at the N Kolay Istanbul half Marathon and later finishing second at the Ras Al Khaimah half Marathon in the United Arab Emirates.
He opened his 2023 season with a 10th-place finish in the 10,000m at the 31st Kanakuri memorial middle-and long-distance Invitational Meet.
He then finished ninth in the 10,000m at the 1st Nittaidai Challenge Games before finishing third at the 67th Central Japan Corporate Teams Athletics Championships.
He will be looking for his first win when he takes on opponents in the Irish capital for the first time.
Another athlete who has confirmed participation is Great Britain’s Callum Hawkins who will be opening his season at the event.
His last race was last year’s Valencia half Marathon where he fizzled out to finish in a disappointing 28th place.
The 2017 Marugame half-Marathon champion will be looking for a fresh start when he takes on his opponents. He returns to Ireland after a seventh-place finish during last year’s event.