23 April 2010

Top female Brit Mara Yamauchi has managed to overcome one final obstacle in her preparations for the Virgin London Marathon on London on Sunday 25 April. Despite the Icelandic volcano putting a large- ash -cloud over race week proceedings Yamauchi managed to get into London late on Wednesday night after a marathon journey from New Mexico.

Yamauchi arrived in London saying she was "tired but relieved". "It’s been an interesting journey to say the least and hardly the best way to prepare for the race," she said. "I am tired but most of all just happy to be here. Now at least I have time to relax and begin to focus my mind on the race. I am confident I will be fully recovered and ready to run by Sunday morning."

She put her final preparations to bed in Albuquerque where she tapered down her miles ready to take on title holder Irina Mikitenko. After a year of injury problems Yamauchi will be keen to improve her best and may well need to if she’s to claim another medal. The 36-year-old comes to the race in good form having won the recent New York half marathon in impressive style.

See the final instalment of Mara’s Marathon Blog- http://www.uka.org.uk/media/news/april-2010/07-04-2010-mara/.

The  British elite field runners are not only contesting the London Marathon race itself but could be eligible for European Championships, which incorporates the Marathon World Cup, and Commonwealth Games selection based on their efforts on Sunday with the race doubling up as the UKA and England Athletics Championships.

Dan Robinson returns to the Elite men’s race. Britain’s top male will line up against an experienced field including Duncan Kibet, the world champion, Abel Kirui, the Olympic and defending London champion and Sammy Wanjiru, the three-times London winner.

Robinson arrives with a 2.12:14 marathon best, set in Amsterdam in 2009. London has been kind to him in the past, providing the race in which he qualified for both his Olympic races, the second of which when he shaved seconds from his PB to clock 2:13:10 two years ago.

First Brit home in 2009 Andi Jones returns to London following his 13th place, personal best finish last year. While US based Andrew Lemoncello, makes his marathon debut having gradually climbed the distance ladder for a number of years before reaching his highest point at the 2009 World Half Marathon in 2009 finishing 26th.

After course record and title holder Kurt Fearnley was forced to withdraw this week because of flight disruption, top wheelchair racer David Weir looked set for success. However in a last minute twist to the wheelchair marathon the Australian was given a second chance when British airspace reopened on Tuesday night.

Four times 2008 Paralympic medallist and multiple British record holder Weir lost his course record and title to Fearnley in 2009 and will be looking for revenge on Sunday.

Weir said: “My preparation’s going really well,” said the Surrey man who won two Paralympic gold medals on the track in Beijing. “I’ve just come back from training in Australia, where I got some good times.

“There’s a strong field this year and maybe six who could win, but whoever gets it right on the day is likely to take it. I’m just hoping for a great race in my home town.”

Shelly Woods will be seeking revenge amongst the best ever Women’s wheelchair marathon fields following a sixth place finish in 2009. She has spent much of the year training in Australia, picking up no less than twelve top five finishes across six distances during that time.

The European Championships Marathon Cup team will be announced early next week following the marathon.

Results from the London Marathon can be found at www.uka.org.uk and http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/

BRITISH MEN

Dan Robinson (Stroud)

Andrew Lemoncello (Fife / Florida State University)

Andi Jones (Trafford / Salford Harriers)

Tom Payn (Winchester)

Michael Green (Blackburn)

Dave Norman (Altrincham / Sale Harriers Manchester)

Toby Lambert (Winchester)

Richie Gardiner (Cardiff)

Gareth Raven (Sale Harriers Manchester)

Neil Renault (Medway & Maidstone)

Ben Fish (Blackburn)

Ben Moreau (Aldershot, Farnham & District)

Matthew Pierson (Holmfirth)

Kevin Skinner (Newham & Essex Beagles)

Nathaniel Lane (Cardiff)

Steve Way (Bournemouth)

David Wardle (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies)

Alan Buckley (Leeds City)

Lee Merrien (Newham & Essex Beagles) 

Simon Deakin (Leeds City)

Simon Lawson (Cardiff AAC)

David Weir (unattached)

BRITISH WOMEN

Mara Yamauchi (Harrow AC / Second Wind AC)

Sue Harrison (Leamington)

Jo Wilkinson (Bedford & County)

Holly Rush (Team Bath)

Susan Partridge (Leeds City)

Kim Fawke (Telford AC)

Helen Decker (Ipswich Jaffa)

Nicky Archer (Vale Royal / Birmingham University)

Rebecca Robinson (Kendal)

Alyson Dixon (Chester-le-Street / Sunderland Uni)

Jenny Blizard (Rotherham)

Caroline Hoyte (Arena)

Shelly Woods (Blackpool)