Marathon Trio Selected For 2012

8 DEC2011

Earlier this week Scott Overall, Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauchi became the first runners to be selected to compete for Team GB in the marathon event at London 2012.

All three athletes achieved the UK Athletics 'A' qualifying standard this year and will join 16 other confirmed athletes for next year's Olympic Games. Radcliffe's time of 2:23:46 at the Berlin Marathon was enough to ensure her place and will be the fifth consecutive time she has represented Team GB.

Radcliffe's inclusion also makes her only the third British athlete to be selected for five Olympic Games and will represent a great opportunity for Radcliffe to record victory at an event that is yet to yield a medal. A recent post on her twitter account read: "Very proud to be in Team GB. Hoping 5th time lucky!"

Mara Yamauchi, meanwhile, recorded a qualifying standard performance at the Yokohama Marathon in November, finishing in 2:27:24. The 38-year-old runner recorded sixth place at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and is the second fastest British woman over the marathon distance this year behind Radcliffe. Yamauchi commented: "I'm absolutely thrilled to have been selected. It's a dream come true."

Overall completes the trio in a year in which the runner has experienced a meteoric rise. Originally a 5k competitor, Overall made his marathon debut in Berlin and achieved the 'A' standard time by finishing in fifth position with a time of 2:10:55. The 28-year-old commented: The marathon course is really spectator friendly so I can imagine the home crowd will be absolutely fantastic and the atmosphere will be amazing."