Bupa Great South Run Offers the Most Exciting Competition Ever
There had been a rather glittering welcome for Joseph Ebuya and Saif-Saeed Shaheen, the World Champions, at the field of the 21st Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth. The race is expected to see the current European, Olympics and Commonwealth games
gold medallist as well in action.
Joseph Ebuya, the reigning IAAF World Cross Country Champion from Kenya and Shaheen from Qatar having World 3000m Steeplechase to his name for twice would be joined in the race by Viktor Rothlin who have recently won European marathon.
The women’s competition in the event too is expected to witness quite a strong line up over an easy flat and fast ten miles long track. The prominent athletes for women’s competition would constitute Constantina Dita, hailing from Romania, the gold medallist
in 2008 Olympic Marathon, along with Grace Momanyi from Kenya. Momanyi holds the title for 10,000m held at this month’s commonwealth games in New Delhi, India.
However, the spectator might not be able to have Jo Payey running on the tracks of Bupa Great South Run as she had eventually developed sickness and currently she is on rest to regain her health and stamina back. In the absence of Payey, the winner of the
track in 1996, the young and talented Stephanie Twell would be leading the domestic challenge against the pack of stars from around the globe.
The elite athletes’ manager, Peter Riley, while talking to the media said that it was great to have all the major championships gold medallists and other world class athletes in the event. He was of the view that a very wide open competition in men’s and
women’s races would provide quite a fantastic watch for the spectators. Looking quite excited for recruiting the best ever strength for the event, Riley further said that he was sure that all of the athletes would do a full justice to the 21st Bupa
Great South Run anniversary occasion.
The much awaited and widely celebrated Bupa Great South Run which is to be preceded by the Junior and Mini races on the following day has attracted a record 23,000 entries for the event. The IAAF Gold Label event of Bupa Run would be televised live on Channel
15 from 10.30 onwards.
For men’s 5000m races, Vincent Yator from Kenya who stood fourth at the Delhi Commonwealth Games 5000m completion, would be joined by two of his fellow countrymen Ebuya and Shaheen upon a track where the presence of top European athletes, Rothlin and Guenther
Weidlinger has also been assured by the organizers.
Rothlin, the European Championships marathon winner from Switzerland has also recovered from the Barcelona race held in August and would most probably be competing for the Bupa Run title. Moreover, Weidlinger from Australia also looks rather eager to add
another big success to his career. Weidlinger currently holds the Great Australian Run title which was held in November last year.
After being denied the visa from Chinese authorities to participate into the World Half Marathon Championships held at Nanning, Andy Lemoncello from Scotland would also now be able to participate into the Great Bupa event.
With Momyani following her fantastic victory at Delhi Commonwealth Games, the women’s race too would look promising to offer something thrilling. The Bupa Great Run would pose a huge challenge to the Kenyan athlete who also had the title of winning Bupa
Yorkshire Run. Moreover, the ten miles debut of Britain’s Twell would provide a remarkable sight to the spectators.
Dita, on the other hand, despite of being a veteran runner has been getting down to serious preparations to defend her title at the coming London Olympics 2012. Furthermore, Inclusion of Sara Moreira from Portugal would also make an interesting entry.
Giving his remarks about Ines Monteiro, another well talented runner for the event, Riley said that she had a great year so far and despite of coming to Portsmouth just a year ago, she had the potential to prove to be the runaway winner of the competition.
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