History-making Tanzanian marathon star Alphonce Simbu has landed in Sydney intent on writing more records.
Simbu edged Germany's Amanol Petros in a thrilling photo finish to win by the smallest margin in any global marathon at last year's world championships in Tokyo.
He then finished in two hours, two minutes and 47 seconds to notch a personal best in Boston, finishing second and almost a minute ahead of Ethiopian Hailemaryam Kiros.
Kiros had hit the tape first in Sydney last year, his 2:06:06 a course record and fastest marathon ever run in Australia.
The pair will meet again in Sydney on Sunday in a stacked field that includes Sisay Lemma and fellow Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet - the second-fastest 5000m runner in history (12min 36.73sec) - who will make his marathon debut.
Fit-again Australian Olympian Andy Buchanan will also return to the distance for the first time since the London race last April.
Simbu is eyeing off the field and wants to make a statement in Sydney, which became one of seven marathon majors last year.
"I focus for two things: one to be on the podium, top-three," Tanzania's first world marathon champion said.
"Second, to make a new course record.
"I'm from Tanzania ... we're all training in different places so we don't know who is going better than others -- but we'll know on Sunday."
Women's world champion Peres Jepchirchir is also in the field and will be challenged by former middle-distance star and fellow Kenyan, Irine Cheptai.
More than 40,000 runners from 140 countries will participate in the race.
This AAP article was made possible by support from Asics Australia.
