byLarry Eder
Mara Yamauchi, 2010 Virgin London Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net
Britain’s Mara Yamauchi, the second fastest active British women marathoner, with a personal best of 2:23:12, run at London in 2009, has continued to have bad luck. With a hamstring injury that needs to heal, Yamauchi has withdrawn from the 2011 Virgin London Marathon.
Yamauchi has, since the 2009 London race, had a tough time. In 2010 Virgin London, it took Yamauchi six days to travel from New Mexico to London, and she subsequently finished tenth in the 2010 Virgin London race. She ran the 2010 ING NYCM marathon in November of 2010, only to fade badly and finish in 2:31:28 for 13th.
This injury means that Mara will still need to reach the Olympic A Standard, of 2:31, to make the UK team. Depending on the hamstring, it either means a fall 2011 or a spring 2011 race!
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Virgin London
Press Release
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Hamstring blow puts Yamauchi out of London
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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.
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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
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