More than 12,000 runners have registered for the 12th edition of the Stanchart Nairobi International scheduled for Sunday, organizers said on Saturday.

World class athletes will fight it out for top honors against newcomers who include Collins Tanui and Geoffrey Kosgei in the 42km full marathon whose grand prize is 18,000 U.S. dollars for both men's and women's categories.

This year's total entry is a sharp drop from over 21,000 participants in 2013 and officials were hard placed on the reasons for the razor-sharp drop.

"We will analyze the causes for the reduction in numbers and give a comprehensive report after the race. As of now we cannot tell the exact cause," local organizing committee chairman Peter Gitau said during the final media briefing in Nairobi.

"However, we promise to deliver an exceptional world class event that will exceed expectations," Gitau said.

The Stanchard Marathon has emerged as catapult point for budding athletes, most who have nurtured their talent unto world class runners.

World marathon world record holder Dennis Kimetto (2:02.57), the third fastest marathon runner Geoffrey Mutai and Commonwealth Games champion Irene Jerotich all cut their teeth in the race.

Kenyan police have promised maximum security at the event, whose proceeds go towards efforts to eradicate avoidable blindness in children under 15 years of age and in which over 7,000 children in Kenya have had their eyesight restored.

The Nairobi event is among the nine Stanchart sponsored marathons around the world that include the lucrative Dubai and Hong Kong races.

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