Kampala — DORCUS Inzikuru became the first elite athlete to confirm participation in the MTN Kampala marathon, whose registration started yesterday.

Inzikuru, who over the weekend finished 11th in the Paris 6.7km road run yesterday confirmed that she will compete in the 10km race.

She won the title two years back.

"I still have two more road races to compete in, but I have started preparing for the MTN Marathon," the former world 3000m steeplechase champion said in an email message from Paris.

"It will be the last road race I will have before I shift attention to the cross country season."

The race in Paris attracted over 80 athletes with 11 Kenyans and eight Ethiopians. Inzikuru finished in 22 minutes 25 seconds.

"It was a tough race and it was very cold," Inzikuru said.

"Tell my fans that I will be running at home."

In order to ease the registration, MTN has dedicated a telephone number 0776-120005 for all mobile money subscribers who are registering for the annual event.

"We want people to register even when at office," said the company's public relations officer Sheila Kangwagye explained yesterday.

The marathon due November 22 will start and end at Kololo Airstrip..

The marathon will attract athletes from five nations -- Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.