Dewi Griffiths, Andy Vernon, Charlotte Purdue and Lily Patridge are among the runners joining Mo Farah in London next month.

A strong British field has bee named for The Vitality Big Half on Sunday, March 10, while two former winners of the London Marathon, Wilson Kipsang and Daniel Wanjiru, are also confirmed.

Mo Farah was previously announced for the second edition of the half marathon and among those joining him in the UK capital are Dewi Griffiths, Andy Vernon, Jonny Mellor, Charlotte Purdue, Lily Patridge and Steph Twell.

The race will once again double up as the British Half Marathon Championships and the strong domestic field should see competitive racing for the podium places.

Griffiths, who most recently ran 61:44 to finish eighth at the Chevron Houston Half Marathon last month, is among those who also have their eyes on the London Marathon in April.

Vernon and Mellor are also set to race at the London Marathon along with Irish international Mick Clohisey.

Four-time Olympic champion Farah is the reigning men’s champion of The Vitality Big Half. He won last year’s inaugural race by outsprinting Wanjiru in a thrilling finish in Greenwich, coming home in a time of 61:40.

Photo: The Vitality Big Half

The women’s race promises to be an exciting all-British affair with all three of last year’s podium finishers returning.

Purdue was last year’s winner, recording a personal best of 70:29 which was the 10th fastest half marathon time in British history. The Aldershot athlete broke that PB last week at the Marugame International Half Marathon in Japan where she ran 69:46.

Runner-up Partridge and third-placed Arter are also returning while Twell, who ran 2:30:11 in her debut marathon in Valencia in December, will be making her debut in the event.

Tracy Barlow, Gemma Steel, Hayley Carruthers and Sonia Samuels are also confirmed to take part meaning the seven fastest British women over the half marathon distance in 2018 will all be toeing the start line on March 10.

Eight-time London Marathon champion David Weir leads the entries in the men’s wheelchair race while three-time Paralympic medallist Shelly Woods will be aiming for victory in the women’s wheelchair race while Derek Rae will compete in the ambulant category.

Elite men

Mo Farah, Wilson Kipsang, Daniel Wanjiru, Dewi Griffiths, Andy Vernon, Jonny Mellor, Josh Griffiths, Matt Sharp, Mick Clohisey, Henry Pearce, Jack Gray, Nick Samuels and Bashir Abdi.

Elite Women

Charlotte Purdue, Lily Partridge, Charlotte Arter, Steph Twell, Tracy Barlow, Gemma Steel, Sonia Samuels, Hayley Carruthers, Helen Davies, Tish Jones, Aimee Pratt and Dani Nimmock.

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