The NN Running Team is excited to announce that former Olympic 10,000m champion Almaz Ayana is all set make her keenly-anticipated debut appearance for the team at the Great North Run on Sunday.

The 30-year-old Ethiopian is an athlete of the highest pedigree having also set the world 10,000m record en route to her Olympic title over the 25-lap distance at the Rio 2016 Games.

Almaz, who also claimed World 5000m and 10,000m titles in 2015 and 2017, respectively said: “I am very excited to make my NN Running Team debut and I have been enjoying every training session. Together with my family, my son, and God running is the most important part of my life. The NN Running Team is taking good care of me to ensure I am healthy and to support my training. I feel confident about the races to come.”

For her first ever race in NN Running Team colours, Almaz faces a tough test on Sunday as she faces a world-class field over the half-marathon distance led by Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir and defending champion Hellen Obiri. Almaz posted her half marathon PB of 1:07:12 in New Delhi in 2017.