PRAGUE, May 11 (Xinhua) -- The Volkswagen Prague Marathon will kick off on May 14 with a sheet of elite runners, including bonafide record breakers.

    There are five men competing in the 12th annual running of the event who have each completed marathons with times under the Prague course record, said the race organizers.

    The contenders likely to challenge the record of 2:08:52 set in 1998 by Elijah Lagat, include Steven Cheptot Matebo and Noah Kibwambok Bor, of Kenya.

    Elite women runners at the event included Russian Alina Ivanovaand Caroline Chepkorir Kwambai who, six weeks ago, set a course record for the Hervis Prague Half Marathon, clocking in at 1:10:08.

    A course change from years past also bodes well for runners whoare gunning for the record. According to race director, Paulo Ottone, the course has been re-routed along an 8-km stretch, making the course smoother, flatter and faster. Enditem