Athletics: London Marathon Preview

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Elite athletes from all over the world endured an epic journey before they have even started Sunday’s London Marathon.

Many of the athletes travelling to Britain for the Virgin London Marathon were caught up in the travel chaos caused by volcanic ash from Iceland. Britain’s Mara Yamauchi had to travel from her training camp in New Mexico via a variety of planes and taxis which covered 7000 miles in six days.

Yamauchi will lead the British push for honours on Sunday with star names Paula Radcliffe and Liz Yelling not racing. Yamauchi goes into the marathon boosted by her second place finish in last year’s marathon, and is aiming to go one better this year. She said: “It’s great to be home and I’m here to win the Marathon.” Yamauchi warmed up with a victory in the New York half marathon last month which should stand her in good stead.

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Yamauchi faces a stiff test against a strong female field headed by 2008 and 2009 London Marathon champion Irina Mikitenko of Germany. Mikitenko’s experience in London could be invaluable as she looks to complete a hat trick of wins in London. Mikitenko beat Yamauchi by a minute last year with a time of 2:22:11, and is in decent form having finished second at her last major marathon in Chicago. Mikitenko is one of only nine runners to have broken the 2 hour 20 minute marathon barrier.

Three time London Marathon silver medallist Liliya Shobukova of Russia will be looking to improve on her third placed finish of last year. The Russian is in hot form having pipped Mikitenko to the finish line at the Chicago Marathon in October.

Chris Knight, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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