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'Keitany is the class of the field,' says Bedford
Mary Keitany will be out to show that she's the "real deal" when she goes
for her third victory in the women's race at this Sunday's Virgin Money
London Marathon, according to the event's elite race coordinator Dave
Bedford.
Keitany ran the fourth fastest time on record when she won the London title
for a second time in 2012 and returned last year to place second behind
Ethiopia's surprise winner, Tigist Tufa.
After she retained her New York City Marathon title in November and was
crowned the Series IX Abbott World Marathon Majors champion earlier this
year, Bedford believes the African record holder is ready to join the elite
trio of Ingrid Kristiansen, Katrin Dorre and Paula Radcliffe as a
three-time London winner.
"Mary Keitany is probably the classiest person in this field," said Bedford
as he cast his eye over the women's line-up he's put together for this
year's 36th event.
"She was the favourite for the Olympic marathon in London in 2012 and only
finished fourth, but subsequently found out she was pregnant. She took some
time out and now she's back.
"Her win in New York in the autumn really shows that she's back and I think
she'll want to show here that she's the real deal."
Tufa's win last year was a shock to most seasoned marathon observers as the
unfavoured Ethiopian surprised four much-fancied Kenyans, including
Keitany, to become only the third women's winner from her country. But
Bedford believes a repeat victory is unlikely for the 29-year-old.
"I think the fact that the other elite women didn't push the pace early on
gave her a chance and allowed for that unpredictable result," he said.
"Tigist took the opportunity. She was clever, her tactics were great and
she turned out to be a great winner. Whether she can do that again is a big
question.
"When she ran in New York she was only third, but she'll be thinking, of
course, that she wants to retain her title."
The more likely threat to Keitany, according to Bedford, will come from
Tufa's compatriot Mare Dibaba, who won the World Championships marathon in
Beijing last summer and has twice run the swift time of 2:19:52, most
recently when winning the Xiamen title in China just over 12 months ago.
"She's the Ethiopian we should be looking at," he said. "She clearly is a
great champion and she has a PB which suggests she can go with anyone, no
matter how fast they're running. I think she'll be a more likely winner."
Of the rest, Bedford names another Ethiopian, Aselefech Mergia, the 2010
champion, as someone who will be "there or thereabouts", and Florence
Kiplagat, the world half marathon record holder who competes here for a
fifth time, as "a great runner" who just needs a big London victory to be
considered among the leading names over 26.2 miles.
Tufa, Keitany, Kiplagat, Dibaba and Mergia will all appear at a press
conference at the Tower Hotel, London, at 10:30 on Thursday 21 April.
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