Big guns head for Abu Dhabi

Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru and former world cross champion Lornah Kiplagat defend their titles at the Zayed International half marathon on January 7.

The pair will each pick up a winner's cheque of US dollars 300,000 if they are again successful - with Wanjiru's earnings rising to almost US dollars 1million in little over two months.

His recent victory in the Chicago Marathon won him US dollars 175,000 and also wrapped up the World Marathon Majors' jackpot of US dollars 500,000 - which he will formally pick up in New York in two weeks' time.

Wanjiru is world record holder for the half-marathon with his time of 58 minutes 33 seconds in The Hague two years ago.

However, his transition to the marathon has been the most successful in history, with victories in his last four races, including last summer's Olympic Games, in superfast times, between 2.05.10 and 2.06.39.

Former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat has claimed: "It's only a matter of time before Wanjiru breaks the marathon world record."

However, the 22-year-old faces a tough task in Abu Dhabi with his fellow countryman Patrick Makau and reigning world half marathon champion Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea also competing.

The women's race will also feature a stellar line-up. Kenyan-born Kiplagat, now representing the Netherlands, is the world record holder with her 66.25 in Udine two years ago.

She will face Mary Keitany of Kenya, who has the two fastest times in the world this year, including the second best ever of 66.36 - which won her the world title in Birmingham on October 11.