Sergey Lebid: An inspiration for young athletes – Athletics news
Sergey Lebid is among the most followed Ukrainian long distance runners who is not only a source of pride and privilege for his country, but also an inspiration for youth to mark their dominance in the long distance run. Long distance meets are usually dominated
by African runners, but Lebid is perhaps the only runner who has proved to be equally emphatic as his African counterparts.
The 35-year-old runner from Ukraine already boasts of nine European gold medals under his belt. The player also holds the honour of contesting in every championship since the famous Alnwick, organised first in Northumberland back in 1994. Since then, Lebid
will be taking part into the IAAF Bronze Label Road Race going to take place in Phoenix Park for the fourth time.
Though the Ukrainian has always been a distance runner throughout his athletic career, his highest finish at the track was for number three and that too three years ago. However, feeling as fit as he was at the start of his career, Lebid is determined to
claim the coveted title in the fastest grown race of Ireland, which is staged for a distance of over 10km.
On the other hand, Martin Fagan, the first ever Irish male to claim the SPAR Great Ireland Run, is striving hard to be as physically and mentally fit to retain the title. However, it is an established fact that doing so will not be easy for him this year.
The USA based runner had succeeded in claiming the title in 2010, as a number of other athletes could not contest in the event amid last moment flights cancellation due to volcanic eruption on travelling the route.
Now, for having competitors as formidable as lebid from Ukraine and Jesus Espana from Spain who had beaten Mo Farah, the European 5000m track gold medallist and Rui Silva, the experienced former Olympic and World Gold Medallist from Portugal, Fagan will
have to be at his best to keep the prestigious title with him.
On the Women’s side, Charlotte Purdue, the teenager who happens to be the top-finisher of the recent World Cross Country Championships, will be toiling to continue with her success among the senior ranks of international races.
The 19-year-old girl is perhaps a new youngster among women athletes trained by Mick Woods at her famous club, Aldershot, where the girl is currently stealing all the limelight from Stephen Twell, the bronze medallist at last year’s Commonwealth 1500m event.
Now, after making an impressive start for winning the European Junior Cross Country gold medal and for proving herself as the British Number One, the girl is switching her attention to long roads. Though having competitors as strong as Berhane Adere, the
running champion, Purdue may not manage to emerge as the field favourite, but this is also a fact that the youngster has the ability to unsettle her opponents with her uninhibited running ability.
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