Wilson Kipsang will bid to become the fourth man to win three London Marathon titles on Sunday while the greatest female athlete ever over the distance brings the curtain down on a glorious career.

– VIDEO: Desisa and Rotich claim Boston Marathon wins
– VIDEO: Usain Bolt disappointed not to run under 10 seconds

Defending champion Kipsang is looking to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Martin Lel, Mexico’s Dionicio Ceron and Portugal’s Antonio Pinto by making it a hat-trick of capital titles and put a smile back on the face of Kenyan athletics at a time of damaging doping allegations in the country.

The 33-year-old’s main challengers are all fellow countrymen – indeed the six fastest men in the field are all Kenyans – and include the man who broke his world record, Dennis Kimetto, whose run of two hours two minutes and 57 seconds in Berlin last September was the first occasion the distance had been run under 2hrs 03mins.

The likes of former winner Emmanuel Mutai and major marathon champions Eliud Kipchoge and Geoffrey Mutai will all look to turn it into more than a two-way battle.

Kipsang, who last year proved far too strong for Mo Farah on the Briton’s ill-fated marathon venture and set the course record of 2:04:29, said: “I feel relaxed. I’ve seen that training – the endurance part, the timings of my speed work – is all going very well, I’m feeling physically fit, no injuries.”

Kipsang, who first triumphed in London in 2012, added: “I’m expecting a big challenge from Dennis. I have more experience in marathons but he has done very well in the few he’s done.”

The women’s world record holder will not be among the contenders this time – 41-year-old Paula Radcliffe will start not with the elites but at the head of the massed ranks – as she runs her final marathon.

She won a hat-trick of titles in London and New York, World Championship gold over the distance, European and Commonwealth titles on the track, two World Cross Country golds and, set the marathon world record of 2:15:25 in London in 2003.