Post by Taxigirl on Apr 17, 2004 10:11:00 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3583813.stm
The 24th running of the London Marathon on Sunday promises to maintain the event's rich tradition as the world's premier road running event.
Thousands of people will raise millions of pounds for charity in the tough 26.2 mile slog from Greenwich to The Mall.
The elite races include some of the world's top athletes despite being hit by Paula Radcliffe's non-participation and Paul Tergat's late withdrawal.
Radcliffe is focusing on the Olympics while record holder Tergat is injured.
Tergat's absence with a calf injury leaves the men's race wide open.
Defending champion Gezahegne Abera returns and will be joined by world title holder Jaouad Gahrib and serial challenger Abdelkader El Mouaziz.
Kenyan duo Evans Rutto, the fastest ever debutant, and Sammy Korir, who finished a second behind Tergat's world record run in Berlin, will also figure.
The race doubles as the British Olympic trial and top contenders, such as Jon Brown, need to run 2:15:00 to qualify.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/spl/hi/athletics/04/london_marathon/html/initial.stm
The decision of two-time winner Radcliffe to opt out opens the door for a new champion in the women's race.
China's Sun Yingjie was a late addition to the cast of challengers and boasts the best time in a strong field.
But she will face stiff competition from New York winner Margaret Okayo and Chicago champion Svetlana Zakharova.
Jo Lodge, the leading Briton in the race, will have to break the 2:37:00 mark to join Radcliffe and Liz Yelling in qualifying for the Athens Olympics.
CELEBRITY CAST LIST
Jeffrey Archer - politics
Charlie Brooks - Eastenders
Iain Duncan Smith - politics
Graham Gooch - cricket
Mark Hughes - football
Lorraine Kelly - TV presenter
Jonny Lee Miller - actor
Neil Morrissey - actor
Gordon Ramsay - chef
Graham Taylor - football
Tanni Grey Thompson's withdrawal leaves David Weir as leading home contender in the wheelchair marathon races.
However, the Briton faces a tough challenge from Mexico's Saul Mendoza.
The trio of top French men, including last year's winner Joel Jeannot, are in action in Boston which leaves the way open for Mendoza.
Women's defending champion Francesca Porcellato will be in the sights of Sweden's Gunilla Wallengren, who has a personal best some four minutes faster.
Following the elite athletes past London's famous landmarks will be a cavalcade of charity runners.
It is estimated that since 1981 more than £200m has been raised for good causes, with a record £31m collected in the two years to 2002.
And in among more than the 33,000 runners will be a host of celebrities.
Eastenders actress Charlie Brooks, Wales football manager Mark Hughes, former England boss Graham Taylor and chef Gordon Ramsay are all running.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3499420.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3499278.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3585491.stm
The 24th running of the London Marathon on Sunday promises to maintain the event's rich tradition as the world's premier road running event.
Thousands of people will raise millions of pounds for charity in the tough 26.2 mile slog from Greenwich to The Mall.
The elite races include some of the world's top athletes despite being hit by Paula Radcliffe's non-participation and Paul Tergat's late withdrawal.
Radcliffe is focusing on the Olympics while record holder Tergat is injured.
Tergat's absence with a calf injury leaves the men's race wide open.
Defending champion Gezahegne Abera returns and will be joined by world title holder Jaouad Gahrib and serial challenger Abdelkader El Mouaziz.
Kenyan duo Evans Rutto, the fastest ever debutant, and Sammy Korir, who finished a second behind Tergat's world record run in Berlin, will also figure.
The race doubles as the British Olympic trial and top contenders, such as Jon Brown, need to run 2:15:00 to qualify.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/spl/hi/athletics/04/london_marathon/html/initial.stm
The decision of two-time winner Radcliffe to opt out opens the door for a new champion in the women's race.
China's Sun Yingjie was a late addition to the cast of challengers and boasts the best time in a strong field.
But she will face stiff competition from New York winner Margaret Okayo and Chicago champion Svetlana Zakharova.
Jo Lodge, the leading Briton in the race, will have to break the 2:37:00 mark to join Radcliffe and Liz Yelling in qualifying for the Athens Olympics.
CELEBRITY CAST LIST
Jeffrey Archer - politics
Charlie Brooks - Eastenders
Iain Duncan Smith - politics
Graham Gooch - cricket
Mark Hughes - football
Lorraine Kelly - TV presenter
Jonny Lee Miller - actor
Neil Morrissey - actor
Gordon Ramsay - chef
Graham Taylor - football
Tanni Grey Thompson's withdrawal leaves David Weir as leading home contender in the wheelchair marathon races.
However, the Briton faces a tough challenge from Mexico's Saul Mendoza.
The trio of top French men, including last year's winner Joel Jeannot, are in action in Boston which leaves the way open for Mendoza.
Women's defending champion Francesca Porcellato will be in the sights of Sweden's Gunilla Wallengren, who has a personal best some four minutes faster.
Following the elite athletes past London's famous landmarks will be a cavalcade of charity runners.
It is estimated that since 1981 more than £200m has been raised for good causes, with a record £31m collected in the two years to 2002.
And in among more than the 33,000 runners will be a host of celebrities.
Eastenders actress Charlie Brooks, Wales football manager Mark Hughes, former England boss Graham Taylor and chef Gordon Ramsay are all running.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3499420.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3499278.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3585491.stm