Two Welsh sports stars will be the mystery runners at the 2009 Nos Galan Races on New Year’s Eve.

Every year a mystery runner - whose identity is kept secret until the night of the event - joins the famous races through Mountain Ash town centre.

This year, two well-known sports stars will lay a wreath at legendary runner Guto Nyth Bran’s grave in Llanwonno graveyard after a special service at Llanwonno Church, then follow the route down to Mountain Ash town centre.

Ann Crimmings of the Nos Galan committee, which organises the Races, said: “We look forward to welcoming our mystery runners and hope hundreds of people will come along on the night to discover who they are and enjoy what promises to be a great evening.

“Many thanks to all our sponsors who are backing this year’s Races, including our latest sponsors, Tesco of Aberdare. They have kindly donated 1,200 ‘Crazy Caramel’ chocolate bars for runners on the night.”

Last year, Olympic 100m champion Linford Christie was the mystery runner at the Races’ 50th anniversary. He was greeted by around 10,000 people in Mountain Ash town centre and later said he’d had a ‘brilliant’ night.

More than 700 people have now registered to run in the annual 5km races. If you wish to take part, please register online at www.nosgalan.co.uk before 12pm on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.

The first race of the evening is at 5.15pm for eight-nine year olds, followed by the 10-11 year olds and 12-13 year olds. The mystery runners will light the Nos Galan beacon in the town centre at 6.30pm, then the elite race follows at 7pm, with the adult race at 7.30pm.