Mara Yamauchi triumphs in NYC Half Marathon (© Victah Sailer)
Mara Yamauchi is aiming to become the first British winner for seven years of the Bupa 30th Great North Run when competing at the anniversary race on September 19.
Yamauchi, based in Japan, has not competed since the Virgin London Marathon in April but is strongly tipped to challenge in the world's biggest Half Marathon contest, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
The 36-year-old Oxford born star will line-up against three former Bupa Great North Run champions - Berhane Adere of Ethiopia, Kenya's Susan Chepkemei and Jessica Augusto of Portugal, who will be defending her title.
“I’m really looking forward to racing the Great North Run again," Yamauchi said. "It always attracts the best athletes in the world and is a fast course, so I’ll be aiming for a fast time and hope to win. I last ran the Bupa Great North Run in 2005 when I smashed my PB, so I certainly have fond memories of this great race!"
“Since the London Marathon I’ve been building up my training towards the autumn and winter road racing season. I had a small foot problem in June but that is now resolved and I am training well again. The Bupa Great North Run will be my first race since London so I’m looking forward to racing again, and a good result.”
"Mara is a very experienced half marathon runner and I know is determined to follow in the footsteps of Paula Radcliffe, the last Brit winner of the race in 2003," said Peter Riley, the meeting's elite athletes manager.
"She showed her ability over the distance when winning the New York Half Marathon in March where her time of 69 minutes 25 seconds, a course record, was phenomenal considering the injury problems she had last year."
Yamauchi, after a superb second place in the 2009 London Marathon, saw her hopes of challenging for the World Marathon title in Berlin later in the summer thwarted by a foot injury.
The sixth finisher in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Marathon took several months out after further problems before opening her campaign early this year, but wasn't quite ready to repeat her podium finish of 12 months earlier.
"I know since finishing 10th in London she has managed to put together a solid block of training and it is great to be able to welcome here back to our event for the third time," added Riley.
Yamauchi, before making her mark as a world class Marathon runner, finished 22nd at the 2004 Bupa Great North Run and then the following year improved significantly to place sixth with an impressive time of 1:09:51.
Organisers for the IAAF
Yamauchi, based in Japan, has not competed since the Virgin London Marathon in April but is strongly tipped to challenge in the world's biggest Half Marathon contest, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
The 36-year-old Oxford born star will line-up against three former Bupa Great North Run champions - Berhane Adere of Ethiopia, Kenya's Susan Chepkemei and Jessica Augusto of Portugal, who will be defending her title.
“I’m really looking forward to racing the Great North Run again," Yamauchi said. "It always attracts the best athletes in the world and is a fast course, so I’ll be aiming for a fast time and hope to win. I last ran the Bupa Great North Run in 2005 when I smashed my PB, so I certainly have fond memories of this great race!"
“Since the London Marathon I’ve been building up my training towards the autumn and winter road racing season. I had a small foot problem in June but that is now resolved and I am training well again. The Bupa Great North Run will be my first race since London so I’m looking forward to racing again, and a good result.”
"Mara is a very experienced half marathon runner and I know is determined to follow in the footsteps of Paula Radcliffe, the last Brit winner of the race in 2003," said Peter Riley, the meeting's elite athletes manager.
"She showed her ability over the distance when winning the New York Half Marathon in March where her time of 69 minutes 25 seconds, a course record, was phenomenal considering the injury problems she had last year."
Yamauchi, after a superb second place in the 2009 London Marathon, saw her hopes of challenging for the World Marathon title in Berlin later in the summer thwarted by a foot injury.
The sixth finisher in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Marathon took several months out after further problems before opening her campaign early this year, but wasn't quite ready to repeat her podium finish of 12 months earlier.
"I know since finishing 10th in London she has managed to put together a solid block of training and it is great to be able to welcome here back to our event for the third time," added Riley.
Yamauchi, before making her mark as a world class Marathon runner, finished 22nd at the 2004 Bupa Great North Run and then the following year improved significantly to place sixth with an impressive time of 1:09:51.
Organisers for the IAAF
