Nine Kenyans to confront Mo Farah in Port-Gentil 10km race

British runner Mo Farah tops the list of world-class contenders announced for the men's elite race at the Port-Gentil 10 km in Gabon, an IAAF Bronze Label Race on Sunday, April 8.

The four-time Olympic champion, currently training in Ethiopia, will face Kenyans Daniel Kosen, Emmanuel Kiprop, Cleophas Meyan, David Kimaiyo, Vincent Kipkemboi, Moses Kibet, Samuel Kibathi, Barnabas Kosgei, and Silas Meti.

Also named in the star-studded field are Ethiopia's Yassin Haji and his counterpart Chimdesa Dembele.

Daniel Kosen is the third fastest in the field with a personal best time of 27:01 which he set in January when he finished third at Valencia 10K Ibercaja.

Mo Farah has a personal best of 27:44, a time he ran in the 2010 Bupa London 10km, and the race in Gabon will be his second last as he is preparing to retire after the 2023 London Marathon.

In the women's category, Kenya's Esther Borura, Victory Chepngeno, Naomi Chepngeno, Sndrafelies Tuwei, Mercyline Cherono, Viola Chepngeno, and Beatrice Cheserek will face stiff competition from Ethiopia's Dawit Seyaum.

Borura has a personal best of 30:15, which she set at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja, a World Athletics Label road race held on Sunday, January 15.

The Port-Gentil race is expected to have 500 runners and more than 8000 fans and is billed as the biggest race in Gabon owing to the big prize money for winners of both the men's and women's races.

Ugandan Abdallah Mande is the defending champion in the men's category, while Sheila Chelangat of Kenya is the champion in the women's category.

The duo broke the African 10km all-comers record race but will not participate this year when the event return after a three-year covid-enforced absence.