Khalid Khannouchi (© Getty Images)
LondonUSA’s Khalid Khannouchi who improved his world best marathon time (2:05:38) on the streets of the British capital last April, will face a tough test in his attempt to defend his Flora London Marathon title on 13 April 2003.
Leading the chasing pack will be Ethiopia’s World and Olympic champion, Gezahegne Abera, who notched up his third Fukuoka triumph at the weekend with yet another trademark sprint finish.
This year Abera, 24, was sadly deprived of the chance to challenge Khannouchi in London because of injury.
“It was very frustrating for me to sit out last year’s race,” Abera (PB 2:07:54) commented. “But I always felt I had to be in top shape to run in such a high quality field. I can’t wait to make up for the disappointment.”
Kenya’s Paul Tergat, the second fastest marathoner in history (2:05:48) is also on the start list. The Kenyan legend now has an average from his four Marathons of 2:07:19. (second in London 2001/2, second and fourth in Chicago 2001/2).
Abdelkader El Mouaziz of Morocco was disappointed not to have done better than fourth in London (2:06:52) this year after he fell heavily. He followed that up with fifth in Chicago in October in a career best 2:06:46.
Three time winner Antonio Pinto of Portugal returns to the race for the ninth time, having set a former course record and his current PB of 2:06:36 in 2000. 2001 Boston winner Lee Bong-Ju (KOR – PB 2:07:20), Italy’s World Championship bronze medallist Stefano Baldini (PB 2:07:29), South Africa’s Ian Syster (PB 2:07:06), Venice Marathon winner David Makori of Kenya (PB 2:08:49) and Britain’s Mark Steinle (PB 2:09:17) complete the line-up.
In the women’s field, America’s Deena Drossin (2:26:53) has been added to the start list which already includes Kenya’s New York City Marathon winner Joyce Chepchumba (PB 2:23:22) and the former holder of the women’s world best Catherine Ndereba (2:18:47), as well as Ethiopia’s double Olympic 10,000m gold medallist Derartu Tulu (PB 2:23:57), European champion Maria Guida (PB 2:25:57) and Russia’s Ludmila Petrova who was third in London this year (2:22:32).
