Lemoncello to race second ever marathon at Europeans

MARATHON newcomer Andrew Lemoncello will test himself against Europe's best after being selected to represent Great Britain at the European Championships taking place in Barcelona in July.

BRITISH TALENT: Andrew Lemoncello will run in the summer's European Championships after finishing eighth in Sunday's Virgin London Marathon in only his first race over the distance (David Wearn/Virgin London Marathon)

In his first ever race over the distance in Sunday's Virgin London Marathon the Scot finished a creditable eighth in a time of two hours, 13 minutes and 40 seconds and was the highest placed Brit.

The former steeplechase runner believes he has it in him to run a lot faster and is aiming to break the two hours, ten minutes barrier in Spain.

And in the build up to London 2012, a strong performance at the Europeans would banish his memories of Beijing 2008, when he could only finish ninth in his heat in the steeplechase.

Also running within the qualification time of two hours, 18 minutes was Andi Jones, who finished the race tenth stopping the clock at two hours, 16 minutes and 38 seconds.

Rounding off the men's team will be Ben Moreau, Lee Merrien, Dan Robinson and Dave Webb, who have all run under the required time this season.

Meanwhile, Mara Yamauchi has confirmed she will not be competing for the Great Britain's women's team, instead concentrating on some hard training to improve upon her tenth place finish in the London Marathon.

The Japan-based runner finished second in the capital last year but after a nightmare six-day journey to reach British shores inevitably affected her performance this time around, the 36-year-old wants to focus on one of the other three World Marathon Majors left his year.

Representing Great Britain will be Sue Partridge and Helen Decker, who were the second and third placed Brits in the weekend's race and both finished under the required standard of two hours, 38 minutes.

Joining them will be Rebecca Robinson, Jo Wilkinson, Michelle Ross Cope and Holly Rush.