Mo Farah to be London Marathon pacemaker

Sir Mo Farah (handicap -6.5) will be the pacemaker for the elite men's race at October's rescheduled London Marathon. Thirty-seven year old Farah, is among the UK athletes with an Olympic-qualifying time faster than the necessary 2:11:30.

2019 winner, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, starts as favourite in the men's event with Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia also expected to feature in reduced fields of around 40 athletes who will compete for the elite women's and wheelchair titles on Sunday October 4th.

The events will flow around a short loop on a bio-secured course  in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The London Marathon has been so important to me since I was a schoolboy and when they asked me to do this I thought it would be great to help," said Farah, who finished highly in 2018 and 2019.

Ethiopians Mosinet Geremew and Mule Wasihun, who finished second and third respectively in 2019, are among several athletes who have run marathons in under two hours five minutes. Dewi Griffiths (handicap -5.2)  has just announced his non-participation while Stephen Scullion's (handicap -5.6) followers will be delighted to hear he's returning to London. Other top athletes will be announced soon.

Brigid Kosgei of Kenya leads up the women's elite field alongside  world champion Ruth Chepngetich.

The route will consist of laps of about 2.5 km, taking in The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Birdcage Walk and Buckingham Palace.