Tirop, still only 22, won the 2017 world cross country title and has proven herself to be a formidable competitor on the track as well. She won the IAAF World Championships 10,000m bronze medal in London last year.

"I feel I am back in top form and will be keen to shake off any rust from a long layoff as I prepare for the Africa Championships," said Tirop.

The Africa Championships, the premier continental athletics meeting this year, and will be held in Asaba, Nigeria from Aug 1-5.

Tirop will up against defending champion Netsanet Gudeta of Ethiopia, who is also the world half-marathon winner.

A third Kenyan, Caroline Kipkirui, doesn't have the international championships credentials of her two compatriots but has shown stunning form recently when winning the Doha 3,000m in a personal best of 8:29.05 and also running a 10km best of 30:28 when finishing second in Prague last month.

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