News22 Oct 2009


Local eyes focus on Farah in Portsmouth

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Mo Farah after he has broken the British 10km record at the 2009 BUPA British 10,000 (© c)

Portsmouth, UKMo Farah the country's most successful middle distance runner of recent years makes an interesting transition when stepping up to 10 miles at the Bupa Great South Run on Sunday.

The BUPA Great South Run is an IAAF Gold label Road Race.

Farah the European Indoor 3000 metres champion and 5000m outdoor silver medallist faces a tough field in the 20th staging of Europe's top miler at the south coast venue.

The 26-year-old  Londoner in what is expected to be the most closely contested race in recent years lines up against main rivals Luke Kibet of Kenya, Martin Fagan from Ireland and South Africa's number one Stephen Mokoka.

All three will offer him a huge challenge over a fast course and Kibet and Fagan in particular will have a slight advantage having previously starred in the Bupa Great South Run.

Kibet in 2007 his halcyon year when crowned IAAF World Championships Marathon champion followed that success with a confident victory in Portsmouth and last year finished third.

Fagan who has recovered from the Achilles injury which wrecked his hopes in last month's Bupa Great North Run, finished three seconds ahead of Kibet 12 months ago and has flown in from his USA base eager to contest the race again.

Mokoka has also had a long flight and a very quick return to the United Kingdom after finishing an impressive eighth at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham a fortnight ago.

However it is the appearance of Farah which is attracting the most attention as he bids to become the first Briton to lift the title since Gary Staines' third and final success in 1996.

Peter Riley, the event's elite athletes coordinator said: "Many will consider it a big step up in distance for Mo but please remember he is no stranger to competing at cross country events around eight miles and a little more.

"Of course the terrain is different and the opposition on Sunday are far more experienced than he is. But we all know Mo loves the big occasion, particularly at live televised meetings.

"The race is important for him. It may a few years away but one day he plans moving up to the marathon and this I imagine is a first stepping stone in that direction."

Riley having pulled together the highly competitive field, added: "I'm not ruling out Ali Abdalla (Eritrea), Shawn Forrest (Australia) and in particular Mabrouk El Zaidi (Libya) to prove themselves a handful."

Ndereba leads women’s field

The women's field is also evenly matched although Catherine Ndereba the two-times world marathon champion will start favourite to become the third Kenyan winner of the race.

"Catherine's in tip top shape at present as she displayed with her victory in last month's Philadelphia half marathon where she clocked a very impressive sub-70seconds time," Riley said. 

"Of course she'll be stepping down in distance but her remarkable seventh victory in Philadelphia one of the USA's top road running events, was achieved in a speedy fashion including a fast finish.

"I think the flat course will suit her style of running and I know she is looking forward to becoming the third Kenyan winner in succession to Esther Kiplagat (1999) and Rose Cheruiyot two years ago."

The 36-year-old who has been based in the USA for 15 years can expect a huge challenge from Australia's former world cross country champion Benita Willis on the comeback trail after some recent injuries.

"You can bet Benita will not offer her an inch and will cover every move," Riley added of the three-time Olympian and 2004 Bupa Great South Run champion.

Top Portugese stars Ines Monteiro and Ana Dulce Felix have shown excellent form this year, the former with her top-10 finish in the World 10,000m final in Berlin and Felix with her brilliant third place in the Great North Run.

"They'll be a handful," Riley insisted, "and Nicole Aish (USA) and Pauline Wanguru (Kenya) will also be in with a shout. And let's not rule out home stars Helen Clitheroe, Charlotte Purdue and Claire Hallissey.

"A victory for the three of them on paper is beyond them but I'm sure both will be determined to produce top displays in what is a big day for both of them."

PA Sport for the IAAF

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