FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hamstring blow puts Yamauchi out of London
20 January 2011
Britain's Mara Yamauchi has been ruled out of this year's Virgin London
Marathon with a hamstring injury.
The Japan-based runner was hoping for a return to form after two
disappointing performances in 2010, in London last April and at the New
York marathon in November.
But with the London 2012 Olympics on the horizon, Britain's main hope for
the race on 17 April has been forced to concentrate on treatment and
rehabilitation.
She said: "I am very disappointed to have to withdraw from the 2011 Virgin
London Marathon due to a hamstring injury. London is an iconic marathon
which I have enjoyed racing many times.
"I was looking forward to returning to London this April. But my injury
treatment and rehabilitation must take priority, especially with the 2012
London Olympics approaching fast.
"I hope to return to my best as soon as I can. I wish everyone who competes
on 17 April the best of luck."
Yamauchi was one of 15 women announced in the elite line-up who have a
marathon best of less than two hours 25 minutes. She set her personal best
of 2:23:12 when finishing second to Germany's Irina Mikitenko in 2009, a
performance that appeared to herald a breakthrough for the former diplomat.
But a series of injuries have prevented her reproducing that form since.
She missed the 2009 world championships in Berlin with a foot injury and
could only finish 10th in London last year exhausted by a six-day journey
from her training base in the United States caused by Iceland's volcanic
ash cloud.
She skipped last August's European Championships in Barcelona but lined up
for the New York Marathon on 7 November with high hopes of finishing in the
top three. After racing with the leading group for the first half of the
race, she faded to finish 13th in 2:31:38.
Virgin London Marathon race director Dave Bedford said: "It is a hugely
disappointing to lose Mara from this year's race. Many in Britain were
hoping to see her up with the medalists again, as she was two year's ago.
"It is a bitter blow for her, but we understand she needs to recover fully
from this injury and prepare as well as possible for the Olympics next
year.
"Despite Mara's absence, we still have one of the most talented women's
fields ever for this year's Virgin London Marathon and are looking forward
to a fantastic race."
Britain's hopes in the women's event now rest with Olympian Liz Yelling,
the former Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, plus two marathon
debutantes, Yelling's sister-in-law Hayley Yelling, and seasoned
international Jo Pavey.
Andrew Lemoncello will fly the flag for Britain in the men's race. The
Scotsman was eighth on his debut last year.
The following is a full list of the men's and women's elite entries for the
2011 Virgin London Marathon.
Elite athletes and their best marathon times
Men
Tsegaye Kebede ETH 02:05:18
Patrick Makau KEN 02:04:48
Samuel Wanjiru KEN 02:05:10
Abel Kirui KEN 02:05:04
Bazu Worku ETH 02:05:25
Jaouad Gharib MAR 02:05:27
Emmanuel Mutai KEN 02:06:15
Viktor Röthlin SUI 02:07:23
Abderrahime Bouramdane MAR 02:07:33
Yonas Kifle ERI 02:07:34
José Manuel Martinez ESP 02:08:09
Marilson Gomes dos Santos BRA 02:08:37
Dathan Ritzenhein USA 02:10:00
Dmitry Safronov RUS 02:10:12
Dylan Wykes CAN 02:12:39
Cuthbert Nyasango ZIM 02:12:40
Jason Lehmkuhle USA 02:12:54
Mike Shelley AUS 02:13:05
Michael Aish USA 02:13:21
Andrew Lemoncello GBR 02:13:40
Collis Birmingham AUS Debut
Stephan Shay USA Debut
Patrick Smyth USA Debut
Mohamed Trafeh USA Debut
Women
Zhou Chunxiu CHN 02:19:51
Irina Mikitenko GER 02:19:19
Constantina Dita ROU 02:21:30
Askale Tafa ETH 02:21:31
Inga Abitova RUS 02:22:19
Lornah Kiplagat NED 02:22:22
Aselefech Mergia ETH 02:22:38
Bezunesh Bekele ETH 02:23:09
Bai Xue CHN 02:23:27
Mariya Konovalova RUS 02:23:50
Xiaolin Zhu CHN 02:23:57
Aberu Kebede ETH 02:23:58
Yukiko Akaba JPN 02:24:55
Edna Kiplagat KEN 02:25:38
Magdalena Lewy Boulet USA 02:26:22
Liz Yelling GBR 02:28:33
Lisa Weightman AUS 02:28:48
Mary Keitany KEN 02:29:01
Fiona Docherty NZL 02:32:17
Tanith Maxwell RSA 02:32:33
Jo Pavey GBR Debut
Jessica Augusto POR Debut
Nikki Chapple AUS Debut
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