London champions face tough test

Tsegaye Kebede (left) and Liliya Shobukhova
12 April 2012

Reigning champions Tsegaye Kebede and Liliya Shobukhova will defend their Virgin London Marathon titles next year after organisers revealed two of the strongest fields ever assembled.

Kebede became only the second Ethiopian to take the men's crown in 2010 when he beat Kenya's Emmanuel Mutai and the Moroccan Jaouad Gharib, while Shobukhova led a Russian one-two ahead of her compatriot Inga Abitova, with Ethiopia's Aselefech Mergia third.

All six medallists from 2010 will be on the start line again on April 17 but, with six men in the field quicker than two hours six minutes and no fewer than 14 women with personal bests below two hours 24 minutes, gaining a podium place in 2011 will be tougher than ever.

Indeed, both line-ups feature the top five in London last year, both Olympic and world champions, World Marathon Majors champions, and recent winners in Berlin, Chicago and New York.

According to race director David Bedford the women's field is "undoubtedly our strongest ever", while the men's "rivals any of those we've put together in the last few years".

Japan-based Mara Yamauchi will again carry British hopes. The 2009 runner-up is hoping to make up for her disappointing 10th place this year - after an epic, energy-sapping six-day journey to avoid the volcanic ash cloud - and a below-par performance in New York last month when she was 13th.

London will also welcome back British Olympian Liz Yelling for the first time since 2008, while two seasoned British internationals make their marathon debuts. Yelling will be joined by her sister-in-law Hayley Yelling, the former European cross-country champion, while Jo Pavey also makes her first outing over 26.2 miles.

After an encouraging eighth place last year, Andrew Lemoncello returns in the men's race aiming to improve his personal best.

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