Press Release - London Marathon - 1/20/11

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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