29 April 2010

REVISION – Andrew Lemoncello (Ron Morrison/Gregg McMillan) has withdrawn from the Marathon Cup team. Scot Martin Williams (Bud Baldaro) will take his spot following a 2:17:36 run out at the Seville marathon in February.

28 Apirl 2010

UKA today revealed athletes selected to represent the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team for the European Marathon Cup, which will be included in the European Championships in Barcelona, Spain 27 July – 1 August.

Following an exciting trials race, which was incorporated into the Virgin London Marathon on 25 April, top performer Andrew Lemoncello (Ron Morrison/Gregg McMillan) was one of a trio who gained automatic selection as the first three Brits past the post.

Lemoncello finished as first Brit on his debut marathon, well inside the qualification time of 2.18:00, clocking 2.13:40. Andi Jones (Bob Merrell) followed in tenth with 2.16:38 and Ben Moreau (Nick Anderson) in eleventh with a time of 2.16:46.

Lee Merrien (John Nuttall) who followed as fourth Brit, in twelfth place overall, was also selected. His time of 2.16:48 was also inside the qualification mark and made him a certainty for selection.

Despite failing to finish the London Marathon Dan Robinson (Chris Frapwell), who is usually known for his consistent marathon performances, used his 2.12:14 outing at the Amsterdam Marathon in October 2009 as credit for a place in the team. Dave Webb (Sian Webb/Bud Baldaro) took the final spot also using a past performance, calling on his 2.15:42 time from the Seville Marathon in February 2010.

The women’s team is made up of Sue Partridge (John Montgomery) and Helen Decker (Clive Sparkes) who finished inside the qualification standard of 2.38:00, with 2.35:57 and 2.36:56 respectively, were automatically selected as second and third British women past the post.

Rebecca Robinson (Norman Matthews) and Jo Wilkinson (Alex & Rosemary Stanton) will also join the women’s team based on their performances of 2.37:14 and 2.37:44 in London which placed them 20^th and 21^st overall in the elite women’s field.

Michelle Ross Cope (Bud Baldaro) withdrew from competition during race week due to a slight injury but was selected based on her performance the previous year in London. Her run out of 2.36:02 was within the selection standard and since then she has shown fitness at three half marathons in 2010.

First Brit home Mara Yamauchi (Shige Yamauchi/ Bob Parker) finished the 26mile course in tenth place overall but had not planned to compete in the European Marathon. Therefore the extra place left room for Holly Rush (Martin Rush) to receive an Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland vest following her 2.37:56 performance.

The women’s marathon will take place in Barcelona on Saturday 31 July and the men’s on Sunday 1 August. For more information visit: http://www.bcn2010.org/

REVISED-

AVIVA GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM

Men

Andi Jones (Salford Harriers)

Lee Merrien (Newham & Essex Beagles)

Ben Moreau (AFD)

Dan Robinson (Stroud)

Dave Webb (Leeds City)

Martin Williams (Tipton)

Women

Helen Decker (Ipswich Jaffa)

Sue Partridge (Leeds City)

Rebecca Robinson (Kendal)

Michelle Ross Cope (City of Stoke)

Holly Rush (Team Bath)

Jo Wilkinson (Bedford & County)