Russian back to defend marathon and record
Saturday October 27 2007
After his record-breaking win last year, Aleksey Sokolov of Russia is the bookies' choice to take the men's title at Monday's adidas Dublin Marathon.
Last year, Sokolov smashed the course record by quickly building up a two-minute lead on the chasers and holding out to finish in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 39 seconds.
He'll take on two other former Dublin champions. Dmytro Osadchy of the Ukraine won in 2005 with a time of 2:14.22 while Kenyan Lezan Kimutai broke Jerry Kiernan's 21-year-old record when he clocked 2:13.08 for victory in 2004.
One to watch is Tomas Abyu of Salford Harriers, who made the British team for last year's European Championships and ran 2:15.24 for fifth in Dublin two years ago. Most recently, Abyu finished fourth in the Great North Run in 62.50.
Andi Jones, also of Salford Harriers, ran a personal best of 2:17.49 in London last April and clocked 65.07 at the Great North Run.
Huw Lobb was the first man ever to win the annual Man v Horse 22-mile race at Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales in 2004. Most recently, he was 17th in the Great North Run, clocking 65.40.
Of the Irish, Cian McLoughlin is back to defend the national title he won last year but admits he's not in great shape. He'll take on four-time winner Gary Crossan, the consistent Pauric McKinney and Galway's Michael O'Connor.
For the first time this year, the elite women's race will start 25 minutes ahead of the main race (8.45), giving spectators a chance to view their progress.
Leading the entry is last year's champion Alina Ivanova of Russia, a former world champion race walker who switched to running. In 2001, she finished seventh at the London Marathon in 2:25:34.
Larisa Zyusko, also Russia, returns to Dublin for a third year, having finished second in 2005 and third last year. Earlier this she improved her personal best time to 2:26.26 in Rome.
From Scotland, Susan Partridge was sixth in the Great North Run with a PB of 72.33 and she is now hoping to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.
Ethiopian Abech Negussie makes a second visit to Dublin, having run at the 2002 World Cross Country Championships held at Leopardstown.
Pauline Curley, the 2005 Irish winner, leads the local women's entry. Last year, Curley was pipped on the line by Jill Shannon, who is injured.
- Athletics
