 |
 |
 |
|
|
Posted Thursday, 7 January, 2010 From Ryan Lamppa, Running USA LONDON - Reigning race champions Sammy Wanjiru and Irina Mikitenko will return to defend their London Marathon titles on Sunday, April 25 against two of the strongest fields ever assembled in the 29-year history of the race. Virgin London Marathon race director David Bedford said: "We are delighted to welcome our two champions back to head such high quality races. These elite fields are as good as any we've had in the previous 29 London Marathons, and I am sure they will produce two superb contests for the London crowds." Wanjiru smashed the course record last April when he added the London crown to his Beijing Olympic gold, while Mikitenko will be chasing a rare triple after she retained her title in superb style in 2009. The German is aiming to become only the second woman ever to win three London marathons in a row following countrywoman Katrin Dorre's trio of victories from 1992-94. Yet both champions face stern tests if they are to repeat their triumphs next year on the streets of London. Despite his brilliant 2009 win in a personal record of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 10 seconds, Wanjiru will be only the third quickest in the 2010 men's field. The line-up includes no fewer than six men who have run faster than 2:05:30, including reigning World champion Abel Kirui and three-time London winner Martin Lel, both of Kenya, plus World and Olympic bronze medalist Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, who was second in London last year, and former two-time World champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco, who was third. Quickest of the lot, however, is Kenyan record holder Duncan Kibet, the second fastest marathon runner of all-time thanks to his 2:04:27 victory at Rotterdam 2009. Like Kirui, Kibet will be making his London Marathon debut. "I am delighted to be returning to London again," said Wanjiru, the 23-year-old Kenyan who was crowned World Marathon Majors champion last November. "I will be doing my best to defend my title after I worked so hard to win it last year. London always has the world's best athletes but with opponents such as Duncan, Abel and Martin it will be even tougher this time." There are many other likely challengers among the 16-strong professional field, including sub-2:07 World silver medalist Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya, plus two-time ING New York City Marathon champion Marilson Dos Santos of Brazil. Two Eritreans - Yonas Kifle, and the three-time World Half Marathon champion Zersenay Tadese - will also be in the hunt for medals, while the Asian challenge comes from a trio of Japanese runners - the Matsumiya twins, Yuko and Takayuki, and Yusei Nakao. Three-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman is the top American male entered to-date. Britain's hopes of a decent showing rest with Dan Robinson, the Commonwealth Games silver medalist, and Andrew Lemoncello, a former steeplechaser making his debut over 26 miles, 385 yards. Competition in the women's race will be equally fierce. While Mikitenko heads the field with her German record of 2:19:19, the World Marathon Majors champion faces stiff opposition from Romania's 2008 Olympic title holder Constantina Dita, all three medalists from the Berlin World Championships, and Britain's Mara Yamauchi who produced a brilliant performance in 2009 to finish second just a minute behind Mikitenko in a personal record of 2:23:12. "My goal is to win a third London Marathon and equal Katrin's record," said the 37-year-old Mikitenko. "I love running in London and I am determined to be fit and ready for the challenge, although I know it will be difficult against such strong opponents." In all, six athletes in the 19-strong field have broken 2:22, while twelve have run faster than 2:25. Athens Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor is the second fastest in the field, and the American will be keen to repeat her 2006 London victory when she set a U.S. record of 2:19:36. New York City runner-up Lyudmila Petrova has the third quickest time. She is one of five strong Russians, including fellow veteran Svetlana Zakharova, three-time runner-up at London; Liliya Shobukhova, the 2009 Bank of America Chicago champion and third here last year, and Inga Abitova, winner of the recent Yokohama Marathon. There's also a phalanx of fast Ethiopians, including the real,- Berlin champion, Atsede Habtamu; the 2009 Dubai champion, Bezunesh Bekele; the World Championships bronze medalist, Aselefech Mergia, and former Paris champion Magarsa Assale Tafa. World champion Bai Xue of China leads the Asian threat, along with World silver medalist Yoshimi Ozaki and her Japanese teammate Yukiko Akaba. Two New Zealanders, Kim Smith and Fiona Docherty, and South African Tanith Maxwell make up the field. The professional fields and their best times: MEN WOMEN For further information, visit: www.virginlondonmarathon.com and www.worldmarathonmajors.com Latest articles in Europe
Dayron Robles and Liu Xiang set for Birmingham battle Busy month for Ennis as World Indoor title defence approaches Farah sends crowd home happy; two world season leads in Glasgow Inspired by Gebrselassie, Radcliffe to run half marathon in Vienna Mutai leads strong Kenyan squad for London Marathon |
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Follow Coolrunning.com on the social web: 
Facebook 
Twitter
Subscribe to the Newsletter | Subscribe to the News Feeds
About Cool Running | Advertise | Race Directors | Support and Feedback | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2011 The Active Network, Inc.
i