APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopia’s distance running superstars Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba (double Beijing Olympic winner) will face each other for the first time in a year at the Aviva London Grand Prix- Samsung Diamond League- in London, UK this Friday (13 August 2010), APA learns here on Thursday.

In a highly contested 5000m, the pair will also come up against Kenya’s world and African champion Vivian Cheruiyot, who is in her own battle with Ethiopian Sentayehu Ejigu at the top of the diamond race for the women’s 3000m/5000m.

It was reported that African 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba will compete in her second 5000m of the season after making a successful comeback from injury with gold at the African Championships nearly two weeks ago.

In contrast, compatriot Defar has won her two 5000m races this season in Hengelo and Stockholm and will be looking to revenge Cheruiyot, who has beaten her twice this season.

An intriguing battle will also take place between Cheruiyot and Ejigu as the battle to finish top of the diamond race as the event reaches at a penultimate phase. With just two races in London and Brussels left, Ejigu holds a two point lead over Cheruiyot and needs to finish above the Kenyan in her two remaining races to be assured of the top finishers’ $80,000 cash prize.