Double Olympic gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele will top the bill at the Bupa Great North Miles on the Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides in North East England next month.

The 26-year-old Ethiopian, who in Beijing became the first athlete for 28 years to win both the Olympic 5,000metres and 10,000m titles, has confirmed he will compete at the event on October 4.

There are high hopes he can run under eight minutes, with back-to-back sub-four minute one-mile splits.

Eliud Kipchoge, who was runner-up to Bekele over 5,000m at the Bird’s Nest Stadium last month, is also entered, along with Australian Craig Mottram.

Bekele’s appearance however is a major coup for the organisers, and the event’s elite athletes manager Andy Caine said: “The Quayside race has in the past been held over 3,000m but we felt to add a little excitement, we would switch to two miles and hope Bekele can produce something extra special for fans to remember him by even after his tremendous Olympic successes.

“It’s a big ‘if’, but maybe if conditions are perfect he can cover the distance in under eight minutes which would equate to two sub-four minute miles.

“Yes, that will be tough but it isn’t a pie-in-the-sky theory.

“If anyone can pull it off, Bekele can, and I just hope there is a fast enough start to the race to see that a dream time can be achieved.”