Ahead of the weekend his friend but also competitive arch-rival Haile Gebrselassie aims to wrest the World marathon record from him in Amsterdam (Sunday 16), Tergat, 36, who had to withdrawal from two British road races in the last month due to a leg injury, has been confirmed fit to race again.

Tergat's target is the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday 6 November but he suffered a slight hamstring injury last month in training that forced him to withdraw from the Great North Run (Half Marathon) and Great South Run (10 Miles). However, as the New York Road Runners confirmed yesterday, his coach Dr. Gabriele Rosa, believes his charge is now back on course for a notable performance in New York.

"Paul Tergat's problem has now been completely overcome," said Rosa. "He's okay now. He feels very good, and he's training together with Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot - who will also race on 6 November.

"For New York, he will be ready to run at a very high level, performing like everyone knows him."

Tergat set the current World marathon record of 2:04:55 in Berlin in 2003.