Preview: British Marathon Olympic Trials – 8am, Friday 26th March (Kew Gardens, Richmond Park)

19 March 2021 - By Scott Darney

 

Exactly 1 week from now, on the morning of Friday 26th March, we will see only the second ever Olympic Trials Marathon selection race for team GB.

Athletes were invited to apply to participate in the trials race if they had achieved a Marathon time of under 2:19:00 (men) and 2:42:00 (women) or a Half Marathon time of under 64:30 (men) or 75:00 (women) between January 2019 and December 2020.

The race will hopefully be shown live on BBC iPlayer but failing that it is thought there will be the option of a live stream courtesy of Muller who sponsor British Athletics.

This is set to be a unique and exciting event as we rarely get to see the top British marathon runners fighting for top spots in the same event. Often over-shadowed by the vast array of African talent that graces the sport these days, they are also spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing which marathon to participate in. It’s been a long time waiting to finally get the chances to see our finest compete against each other in a meaningful event.

To qualify, athletes must achieve the Olympic Qualifying Standard and finish in the top 2 (men) or 3 (women).

With the fields confirmed today, I have decided to rshare my thoughts on the race and the leading contendors.

MEN Race – Olympic Qualifying Standard: 2:11:30

Name, Club, PB

• Dewi Griffiths, Swansea, 2:09:49
• Chris Thompson, Aldershot, 2:11:19
• Ben Connor, Derby, 2:11:20
• Josh Griffiths, Swansea, 2:13:11
• Matt Clowes, Cardiff, 2:13:57
• Andrew Davies, Stockport, 2:14:36
• Robbie Simpson, Deeside Runners, 2:14:56
• Nick Torry, Serpentine, 2:15:04
• Adam Hickey, Southend, 2:16:56
• Paul Martelletti, Victoria Park & TH, 2:16:49
• Paul Navesey, City of Portsmouth, 2:17:16
• Josh Lunn, Cardiff, 2:17:59
• Ian Leitch, Brighton Phoenix, 2:18:33
• Tom Evans, Lewes, 2:26:04
• Mo Aadan, Thames Valley, Debut
• Frank Baddick, Newham, Debut
• Nigel Martin, Sale, Debut

Notable Absentees:

• Callum Hawkins, Kilbarchan, 2:08:14 (Pre-selected)
• Jonny Mellor, Liverpool, 2:10:03
• Derek Hawkins, Leeds, 2:12:49

Callum Hawkins remains the only athlete to be pre-selected for the Marathon team and is currently the fastest UK marathoner (with the exception of Mo Farah who has opted for the 10000m at the Olympics) with a PB of 2:08:14 at London Marathon in 2019.  Hawkins will be pacing the men through the halfway point alongside up-and-coming talent Jake Smith.  Jonny Mellor also has the qualifying time with his 2:10:03 PB but misses out through injury.

That leaves 2 spots open with Welshman Dewi Griffiths leading the way with a PB of 2:09:49 which he achieved on his marathon debut in Frankfurt in 2017.  Ben Connor made his marathon debut in the London Elite marathon of October 2020 and achieved the Olympic standard with a 2:11:20 so will be able to run a tactical race by just aiming to finish in the top 2 without worrying too much about time

Whilst Chris Thompson’s PB of 2:11:19 came back in London 2014, he has had a long and successful career as an endurance athlete and won’t just be there to make up the numbers.   An example to our veteran runners, if he makes the cut then he will head to Tokyo at 40 years old.

On the fringes of the Olympic qualifying time are a handful of runners who have all run under 2:15 and will be looking to improve on those times if they are to threaten the front-runners, this includes the likes of Josh Griffiths, Matt Clowes, Welsh veteran Andrew Davies, Robbie Simpson.

Do not disregard highly respected ultra and mountain runner Tom Evans off the back of his seemingly weak 2:26 marathon PB.  This was achieved back in 2017 and he has improved allot on the roads since then and clearly has a strong mental game judging by his success in ultra marathons.

3 men make their marathon debuts with Mo Aadan the standout having represented GB in the World Half Marathon Championships.  Frank Baddick and Nigel Martin are the other debutants.

Essex will be represented by our County XC Champion and former British XC Champion Adam Hickey of Southend AC.  Hickey debuted in the Marathon in Berlin in 2019 with a strong 2:16:56 and followed this up with a 2:17:38 at London’s Elite only event last year.  He will have learned allot from those first two marathons and we hope it will be enough to put him in contention on the day.

My Predictions:

The race will be paced through 65 mins at the half way mark and it will be interesting to see if they can continue at this pace.  With Jonny Mellor (not running) posting a qualifying time of 2:10:05 already, the tactic might be to either try and beat this or get between Ben Connor (probably the favourite) and the 2:10 mark.  I can only see one man capable of doing this based on prior performances and that is Dewi Griffiths.

To Qualify:

Ben Connor, Dewi Griffiths

Look out for:

Tom Evans

 

WOMEN’s Race – Olympic Qualifying Standard: 2:29:30

Name, Club, PB

• Steph Davis, Clapham Chasers, 2:27:40
• Lily Partridge, Aldershot, 2:29:24
• Sarah Inglis, Lothian, 2:29:41
• Tracy Barlow, Thames Valley, 2:30:42
• Natasha Cockram, Mickey Morris RT, 2:30:49
• Tish Jones, Belgrave, 2:31:00
• Naomi Mitchell, Reading, 2:33:23
• Charlotte Taylor-Green, Bristol & West, 2:36:54
• Rebecca Gentry, Unattached, 2:37:01
• Claire Grima, Hercules Wimbledon, 2:40:38
• Rosie Edwards, Rotherham, 2:40:49
• Johanna O’Regan, Riverside, 2:41:31
• Clara Evans, Cardiff, 2:46:03
• Samantha Harrison, Charnwood, 2:51:33
• Charlotte Arter, Cardiff, Debut
• Becky Briggs, City of Hull, Debut
• Annabel Gummow, Winchester, Debut

Notable Ansentees:

• Jess Piasecki, Stockport, 2:25:28
• Charlotte Purdue, Aldershot, 2:25:38
• Stephanie Twell, Aldershot, 2:26:40
• Jenny Spink, Bristol & West, 2:31:14
• Hayley Carruthers, Birchfield, 2:33:42

With all 3 Olympic spots open for the women this really is set to be a great race.

Sadly, the 3 fastest current marathoners in Jess Piasecki, Charlotte Purdue and Steph Twell have all had to withdraw from the race.   Jenny Spink and Hayley Carruthers also miss out.

This does however present an opportunity to the rest of the field and Steph Davis leads the list of favourites hoping to capitalize on the absence of the 3 faster (on paper) runners.  Stephs Valencia time put her in the top 10 on the British female marathon list of all time and she will line up knowing she is almost 2 minutes faster than her nearest rival Lily Partridge who failed to finish in the London Elite race last year but is a consistently strong runner and will also fancy her chances in the reduced field.

Tucked into that lead group will be Sarah Inglis who ran her first marathon at the USA Marathon Project in Chandler in December last year.  The Scot who is based in Canada will take allot of confidence from her debut and seems to have speed at range having competed recently on the track over 1500m, 5000m and 10000m as well as XC and road 10k and HM races – she may have a fast finish in her.

Natasha Cockram improved on her 2:49 debut marathon time in 2017 to run an impressive 2:30:49 in 2019 and with that kind of progress there is every chance she can run a qualifying time which will surely put her in contention for a top 3 spot.

On the fringes of the qualifying time is the likes of Tracy Barlow, Tish Jones, Jenny Spink, and Naomi Mitchell.   Sam Harrison’s is expected to knock a big chunk off her current marathon PB of 2:51 having run some impressive HM times in the last 2 years.

21 year old Becky Briggs is one of 3 debutants in the womens field and will be the youngest athlete involved in the trials but it could be Charlotte Arter who poses the greatest threat from the debutants as she also has a range of speed from 1500m up to HM (69:40 PB) that could be useful in the later stages assuming she has the stamina to keep herself in contention.  Annabel Gummow will also run her first maraton.

My Predictions:

If Stephanie Davis rus a smart race, she may not have to run out of her skin to qualify.  She doesn’t need to win but she should be comfortably top 3.  Sarah Inglis had a great debut in December and providing she has recovered sufficiently I think she can claim a top 3 spot.  Finding the third runner is not so easy and whilst it’s difficult to bet against Lily, I think there will be a surprise and it could be the ever improving Natasha Cockram who takes the final spot.

To Qualify:

Stephanie Davis, Sarah Inglis, Natasha Cockram

Look out for:

Charlotte Arter