The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Okaya aims for London course record

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004

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Sport - Athletics

Okaya aims for London course record

LONDON, APRIL 13. Margaret Okayo has won her last three marathons in course record times. Repeating the feat at Sunday's London marathon would mean a world record.

Okayo, a 27-year-old Kenyan, set new course marks while winning the New York marathon on November 2 last year, the 2002 Boston and Milan marathons and the 2001 San Diego Rock `n' Roll marathon.

Bettering London's best time will require lowering the world mark of 2 hours, 15 minutes, 25 seconds set by Paula Radcliffe in London last year.

``I have never been to London but I know the course from watching television,'' Okayo said on Tuesday. ``I watched when Paula Radcliffe set the women's world record for the marathon and I decided to try and do better than she did. I'd like to talk to Paula Radcliffe to find out how she did it.''

Radcliffe, who has been hobbled by injuries and illness, is skipping the London race this year to be fresh for the Athens Olympics in August.

Okayo, hampered by a bad back, finished a disappointing fourth in the Lisbon half marathon in March. ``I've had some treatment but now I'm fine,'' said Okayo, who stands just 1.50 meters (5 feet) tall.

With Radcliffe absent, Okayo's main challengers are 1997 and 1999 champion and compatriot Joyce Chepchumba and China's Sun Yangjie, the third fastest woman in history. Sun, the 2003 Beijing marathon champion, has run only six of her 18 marathons outside China.

Other contenders include Chicago marathon winner Svetlana Zakarova of Russia and Ethiopia's Geta Wami, a former track and cross-country champion who is racing only her second marathon. Wami won the 2002 Amsterdam marathon in her debut.

Chepchumba, 33, won half-marathons in Berlin on April 5 and Lisbon on March 29. ``These races were the major part of my training for London,'' Chepchumba said. ``I have run many races and this is the seventh time I've been in London and I'm looking forward to it. I'd like to win again in London.''

Chepchumba, who won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and competed at Atlanta in 1996, isn't likely to make it to Athens.

Okayo, Catherine Ndereba and 2002 Rock `n' Roll champion Alice Chelangat are on the Kenyan team. Chepchumba is a reserve.

The men's field is led by defending champion Gezhegne Abera of Ethiopia. Abera, the Sydney gold medallist and 2001 world champion, will face reigning world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco and Kenyans Sammy Korir and Evans Rutto.

Organisers said rain should hold off for the elite runners in Sunday's race, with temperatures at 8 degrees (46 Fahrenheit) at the start, rising to 13 (55 Fahrenheit) for the finish.

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