The 23-year-old is in Greece at the invitation of the the Hellenic Amateur Athletics Association.

Tyali, who used the 10km event of the Soweto Marathon as a time trial last weekend, said he was using the Greece race in an attempt to qualify for the IAAF World Championships marathon next year.

The world champs takes place in Moscow, Russia – from August 10 to 18 – and the likes of Tyali should breach the 2:17.00 qualifying standard time.

“I am in good shape and the climate is favourable for a good performance in Greece,” said the reigning Two Oceans Marathon 21km champion, who arrived in Athens on Wednesday.

Tyali is relatively new in the 42km competition having mostly specialised in half marathons and other mid-distance events.

His best run in the marathon was his second place finish during the inaugural Gauteng Marathon in September.

Tyali clocked 2:17.59 not far off the eventual winner Timothy Kibet of Kenya who finished in a time of 2:17.33.