from AAI website Mary Cullen made a welcome return to racing on Sunday when she finished second to Shalene Flanagan in the Downtown Providence 5k road race. Injury problems kept her from competing for most of the year so far.
40 15:28 Shalane Flanagan 27 F 1 Pittsboro NC
48 15:46 Mary Cullen 26 F 17 Providence RI
51 15:52 Jane Gakunyi 29 F 28 Concord MA
52 15:53 Renee Metivier-Bailli 26 F 46 Flagstaff AZ
54 15:56 Molly Huddle 24 F 36 Providence RI
55 15:58 Carrie Messner-Vickers 31 F 45 Vail CO
56 16:02 Rebecca Donaghue 32 F NEW BALANCE BOSTON
PAVEY FACING TOUGH OVERSEAS OPPOSITION IN BUPA GREAT NORTH RUN
Jo Pavey faces an enormous task when bidding to become the first British winner of the Bupa Great North Run since Paula Radcliffe’s success five years.
The 35-year-old Commonwealth 5000metres silver medallist will line up against former Great North Run champions Benita Johnson of Australia and Derartu Tulu from Ethiopia in the world’s biggest half marathon race on October 5.
But the biggest threat to prevent Pavey and the two past title holders notching up a win on the Newcastle to South Shields course is expected to come from Tulu’s teammate, Gete Wami.
Wami, the reigning World Marathon Majors overall champion last year is also a gifted performer over the shorter distance and will be eager to add another major road running award to her huge list of successes.
Pavey, well aware of the strong opposition she is likely to face, deliberately called her track season to a halt after the Olympic Games to concentrate on winning next month’s race.
The Exeter Harrier has been piling in the miles since the Olympic 10000m final, although showing she still has plenty of speed in her legs when finishing third in the addidas Women’s London five kilometres road race a fortnight ago.
“Since then I’ve been totally focused on being in the best shape possible for the Great North with plenty of long runs and I’m happy my training has been progressing well,” said Pavey, who finished a frustrated fourth two years ago.
Certainly she is a much wiser road runner since that occasion when, on her half marathon debut, she was left frustrated when after a bad spell she felt delirious with less than a mile to go and was unsure whether she would complete the race.
Pavey quickly learned from the experience and having contested several high profile international road races since then, feels she is now a much more accomplished performer.
Hungary’s Aniko Kalovics who finished third behind Kara Goucher, the American who surprisingly defeated Radcliffe 12 months ago, is also returning along with the highly experienced Worknesh Kidane of Ethiopia.
Hayley Haining and Hayley Yelling who both narrowly missed Olympic selection in the marathon and 10000m will be carrying domestic hopes alongside Pavey.
The men’s race, after the withdrawal of Olympic marathon gold medallist Sammy Wanjiru after a mix up in his racing programme, has seen the inclusion of Luke Kibet, the 2007 world champion.
Kibet will be joined by fellow Kenyan Felix Limo, holder of the world 15 kilometres world record while top American road runner Abdi Abdirahman will be aiming to prove his top notch credentials on European soil.
Dan Robinson, who pluckily took 24th place at the recent Olympic marathon in the heat and humidity of Beijing, will return to action while Jon Brown, his predecessor as British number one, also competes but now as a Canadian after switching nationality.
The Bupa Great North Run will be televised live on BBC ONE from 9.30am to 1.30pm on Sunday 5th October. Highlights programme on BBC TWO at 5pm.