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World marathon record holder Paul Tergat insisted he wants
to run in the BUPA Great South Run.
The brilliant Kenyan is no stranger to Portsmouth having
competed in the BUPA Festival of Road Running a decade ago
when only a fall robbed him of victory.
Now Tergat, who was in England last weekend as the star attraction
of the BUPA Great Manchester Run, says he wants to take part
in the countries biggest 10 mile race.
Tergat, also the world half marathon record holder said "I've
heard what a fantastic event the Great South Run is and also
the course is probably the fastest in the world."
"I'd love to come and see what I can achieve over it
but obviously everything will hinge on how I have recovered
after the Olympic marathon". The race which is on October
10 could attract the 5 times world cross country champion
who ran an unbelievable 2 hours 4 minutes and 55 seconds for
the marathon in Berlin and who admits he enjoys all of the
Great Run series of races.
Tergat said "I think I have, since running for the first
time in the 1991 Great North Run, won all of the Great Run
Series of Events. It's a nice record to have but would be
even better if I can add the South Coast race to my list of
achievements."
Matthew Turnbull athletic director for the meeting was delighted
that Tergat is eager to further strengthen his relationship
with the Great run series.
"Obviously we would be interested in having Paul compete
in the BUPA Great South Run," said Turnbull "he's
a magnificent athlete, so easy to get on with and always encourages
everyone including his major rivals." Turnbull has already
attracted interest from Craig Mottram, a superb winner of
a world class field at the BUPA Great Manchester Run to Portsmouth
for this autumns race and admits it would be a mouth watering
affair seeing another head to head between the Aussie winner
last Sunday and the Kenyan."
"When you think World Cross Country Champion Benita
Johnson has already earmarked the race as a possible autumn
venue post Olympics, we are hoping this years race will have
its best ever field."
Event organisers stress the importance of getting entries
in as quickly as possible. Turnbull said "We are already
approaching 10,000 runners and obviously with the ceiling
set at 15,000 the race is going to be over sub-scribed very,
very quickly."
You can enter online at www.greatrun.org
or call 023 9283 4728 for details.
More information contact Nicola Hedley or David Hart on 0191
272 7033
Source the Time-to-Run
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