The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Can Abera perform an encore?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 17, 2004

Sport

Sport - Athletics

Can Abera perform an encore?

LONDON, APRIL 16. Gezahegne Abera is aiming to become only the second man to retain the London marathon title. The Ethiopian star will have to beat the world champion and the second fastest marathoner in history to do it. Morocco's Jaouad Gharib, who won the world title in Paris last year, and Kenya's Sammy Korir are in a strong field for Sunday's race around central London.

London is Abera's first marathon since he pulled out of last August's World championship race with an Achilles injury. Gharib went on to win the title in only his second race over 42.2 kilometers (26.2 miles).

``I believe I have fully recovered,'' Abera said. ``I came to London with a positive attitude which is the driving force for my success. I don't think there will be any handicap as far as the injury is concerned.''

Abera won last year's race in a sprint finish over Italy's Stefano Baldini. The only man to win back-to-back London crowns was Mexico's Dionicio Ceron, who won three in a row from 1994-96.

Eight of the men in Sunday's field have run faster times than Abera. ``Fear is a word that does not come into my vocabulary, so while I have the utmost respect for my rivals, I am not concerned I have not run as fast as them,'' Abera said.

Korir set his personal best time of 2 hours, 4 minutes, 56 seconds while finishing second at the Berlin marathon in September. Paul Tergat, who pulled out of the London event with a calf injury, won that race in a world record 2:04:55, just one second faster.

Gharib won his marathon debut in Rotterdam last year and surprised the field to win the World championship in Paris. He won the Lisbon half marathon last month inside one hour and has trained for London by the sea in Morocco.

``Running as fast as I did in Lisbon has done wonders for my morale,'' Gharib said. ``I tend to be a confident runner anyway but my run in Lisbon means I can go into the marathon expecting a very fast time.''

Paula Radcliffe won't defend her women's title, but she casts a shadow over the race. The British star, who has been hobbled by injuries, is skipping the race to concentrate on this summer's Olympics in Athens. She set a world record in last year's race, winning in 2:15:25. 0Heading the women's field is Kenya's Margaret Okayo, the New York champion, who has won her last three marathons in course-record times. To repeat the feat in London, she'll have to better Radcliffe's mark.

``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,'' said Okayo, who has a best of 2:20:43. ``I like pressure, I run well when there is pressure to perform.'' Sun Yingjie, the world's third fastest woman, runs a rare race outside China as she decides on what distance to race at the Athens Olympics. She has a best time of 2:19:39.

``London has a very good climate for marathon. I'm very hopeful for this weekend's event,'' Sun said. ``I don't have very high expectations of myself. I simply view this as a practice for me so I can gain more experience to prepare for the Olympics.'' Other contenders are Kenya's Joyce Chepchumba, the 1997 and 1999 champion, 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. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport