Radcliffe and Yamauchi line up for London

[Newsroom]

Paula Radcliffe (Bedford & County) will bid to win her fourth Flora London Marathon on 26th April against one of the strongest fields she’s ever faced.

The world marathon record holder will line up against the defending champion Irina Mikitenko, all three Olympic medallists and five of the first six finishers in Beijing, plus two former London winners and two World Marathon Majors champions.

And she will no doubt be pleased to see a strong marathon challenge from her own country as Olympic sixth placer Mara Yamauchi (Harrow AC) and marathon debutante Jo Pavey (Exeter) line up alongside her next April.

After winning in 2002, 2003 and 2005 Radcliffe aims to emulate her mentor Ingrid Kristiansen, the Norwegian who won the London Marathon four times between 1984 and 1988.

“It’s fantastic to be back at the Flora London Marathon,” said Radcliffe. “I’ve missed the last three years through injuries and it was frustrating not to be fully fit for the Olympic Games this summer.

“But after my victory in New York last month I’m hungry to win back my Flora London Marathon title and join Ingrid in the record books.”

As well as Mikitenko, Olympic gold medallist Constantina Dita returns to London for the eighth time seeking her first win in the British capital.

The 2009 women’s elite field and best times

Irina Mikitenko GER 2:19:19
Paula Radcliffe GBR 2:15:25
Catherine Ndereba KEN 2:18:47
Zhou Chunxiu CHN 2:19:51
Berhane Adere ETH 2:20:42
Lyudmila Petrova RUS 2:21:29
Constantina Dita ROU 2:21:30
Svetlana Zakharova RUS 2:21:31
Gete Wami ETH 2:21:34
Mara Yamauchi GBR 2:25:03
Martha Komu KEN 2:25:33
Inga Abitova RUS 2:33:55
Kate O’Neill USA 2:34:04
Liliya Shobukova RUS Debut
Jo Pavey GBR Debut