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October 2020

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British athletes set for elite races at London Marathon

Steph Twell london

Many British athletes will compete in the elite races at the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday morning 4th October.

The elite women’s race starts at 0715hrs live on BBC Two, before the elite men’s race at 1015hrs and the elite wheelchair races at 1312hrs

World Athletics announced, in July, that it is lifting its suspension of the qualifying system for the marathon giving opportunity for athletes at the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon to hit the Olympic standard of 2:11.30 for men and 2:29.30 for women.  There will be no British pre-selection following the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon, selection will take place following a trial (to be confirmed) in 2021.

In the elite women’s race, Steph Twell (handicap -2.5) gained a standard last year following her 2:26.40 personal best in Frankfurt. Following a spell on training in St Moritz, the Aldershot runner will hit the streets of London with confidence as she moved to sixth on the UK all-time list after her PB last year.

Other British athletes to keep an eye on, who don’t currently hold an Olympic qualifying standard, include Lily Partridge (handicap -1.4), Tracy Barlow (handicap -0.3) and Tish Jones (handicap -0.5).

In the elite men’s race, Jonny Mellor (handicap -6.2) leads the British challenge following his significant PB of 2:10.03 set in Seville in February.

Chris Thompson (handicap -2.5) and Josh Griffiths (handicap -5.9) are among a large portion of British men within the field, whilst Ben Connor (handicap -7.0), Ross Millington (handicap -5.7) and British 50k record holder Dan Nash (handicap -4.6) will make their debuts over the 26.2-mile distance.

In the elite men’s wheelchair race, eight-time champion David Weir will be among the favourites for title number nine. Paralympic Marcel Hug (SUI) will also be a favourite for the title, while JohnBoy Smith, Simon Lawson and Callum Hall  are others to keep an eye on from a British point of view.

Shelly Woods is the only British representative in the elite women’s wheelchair race. The two-time champion will compete in her first London Marathon since 2014.

More information can be found here: https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/index.html

All races at the Virgin Money London Marathon will be on BBC One and Two on Sunday 4th October.