Marathon runners gear up for london race

By Simon Hayes on April 3, 2008 9:00 AM |

Tagged with:

PAULA RADCLIFFE’S withdrawal from this year’s Flora London Marathon has disappointed many British fans but the race still features a world-class field.

The women’s world record holder withdrew with a toe injury last month, leaving the race on April 13 wide open. The new favourite is Ethiopian Gete Wami, although the likes of her team-mate Berhane Adere, Romanian Constantina Tomescu-Dita and Kenya’s Selina Kosgei will all push her hard.

British interest will focus on Liz Yelling, Radcliffe’s former training partner, who continued her preparation with a 14th place finish in the world cross country championship in Edinburgh last Sunday (March 30).

In the men’s event defending champion Martin Lel will be looking to claim his third title in four years. The 29-year-old Kenyan would be only the third runner to achieve the feat.

“I am very pleased to be able to defend my title,” said Lel. “I am training hard to make sure I am in top shape for my bid to win for a third time. I know it will be tough but I love running in London and am confident I can win again.”

Lel faces competition from some of the greatest marathon runners in the world. Olympic champion Stefano Baldini of Italy, Kenya’s world champion Luke Kibet and 2006 London winner Felix Limo are all capable of beating Lel, as is the former world record holder Paul Tergat. Sadly there doesn’t look to be a British runner capable of keeping pace with this quality of competition.

There is better news for Britain in the elite wheelchair races, with defending champions David Weir and Shelly Woods leading the way.

Weir, the 1,500m and 5,000m world record-holder, is chasing his third consecutive London title. He faces stiff opposition from Australian Kurt Fearnley, whom he beat by just one second last year, as well as Heinz Frei of Switzerland, Ernst van Dyk of South Africa and Japan’s Choke Yasuoka.

Woods also faces a high-quality field. Four-time champion Francesco Porcellato will look to avenge her defeat last year, while American Amanda McGrory and Sandra Graf of Switzerland are other names to look
out for.

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk