NAIROBI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan Olympic 5000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot said on Thursday that he expects to run a fast time at the New York Half marathon on Sunday.

The elite men's field is also headed by Kenyans Wilson Chebet (59:15) and Stephen Sambu (60:41) while there will be challenge from Ethiopia's Teshome Mekonnen (60:27) with Dathan Ritzenhein (60:00) and Abdi Abdirahman (60:29) leading the American charge.

But it is the women's race that has the real top names. Cheruiyot, 34, is stepping up her campaign in marathon after graduating from the track competition and will be using the race in New York as part of her preparations for the London marathon on April 22.

"It is always a pleasure to race against some of the world's best runners because it brings out the best in you. I know the organizers in New York have assembled a big team of elite runners and I am excited to run the New York Half Marathon on March 18," she said before her departure on Thursday night.

The diminutive Kenyan, who is the Olympic 5,000m champion, has posted mixed results since she debuted at the marathon distance in London last year, where she was fourth posting a fast time of 2:23:50.

However in September she raced her second marathon, where she won. It was the 34-year-old's first full marathon victory since she moved from the track clocking an impressive time of 2:23:55.

But that will count for nothing as she heads to New York where she will face Ethiopians Mamitu Daska and Buze Diriba and her compatriot Betsy Saina.

"When you prepare for this caliber of competition, it is not about who you will meet, but what is your strength and strategy. It is always about yourself and how prepared you are because all elite runners have top performances," she added.

Indeed, the elite women's field also includes fellow Kenyans Caroline Rotich (68:52), Betsy Saina (69:17) and leading American Emily Sisson (68:21 PB).

Saina, who left Nairobi on Thursday, was upbeat about her next mission. "I am done with a tough week of training and will be excited to test my fitness in New York," she said.

Other runners to look out for include Aliphine Tuliamuk (69:16), Serena Burla (70:08) and Desiree Linden (70:34).