UKA downgrade marathon selection standards for 2010
UK Athletics have relaxed their stiff marathon selection standards for next year's European Championships in Barcelona.
TOUGH ASK: Mara Yamauchi was one of only two British marathon runners inside the qualifying standards for next month's World Championship - although she will miss the event in Berlin through injury (Getty Images)
Only Mara Yamauchi and Paula Radcliffe qualified for the marathon events at next month's IAAF World Championship - with the former withdrawing through injury, while the former world champion's Berlin involvement far from confirmed.
Salford's Andi Jones was the top placed British man in the London Marathon earlier this year and leads the UK rankings with a two hour, 15 minute and 20 second personal best.
But that still left him over three minutes short of the stiff ‘A' standard set by UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee.
However, the policy has been revised for 2010, and the qualifying mark set at two hours 18 minutes for men and two hours 38 minutes for women, with the official trial being next year's Virgin Money London Marathon.
Next year's European Championship will incorporate a team event, the European Marathon Cup, and UKA officials are keen to field full strength six-strong teams in both men's and women's races.
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age limite in marathon 2010
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Marathon
UKA have only relaxed their marathon qualifying standards because those in power when UKA 2008 World Champs standard were set decided that the IAAF standards were not tough enough for their liking. The standards set by UKA for Euro's 2010 are still tougher than those set by IAAF for Worlds 2009.
I should add that the new
I should add that the new "A" standard for men is about 30 seconds slower than the world best Jim Peters set in 1954, over half a century ago!
Jon Brown's age is
Jon Brown's age is irrelevant because he runs for Canada now. The article says the A standards are "stiff", which is utter rubbish. Everybody involved in competitive running knows the reverse is true: compared to qualifying A standards for other athletics events, those for the marathon are remarkably weak. Even more so now. This will certainly ensure a British presence in the marathon at the 2012 games but in terms of winning the men haven't got a hope in hell given the world record is 15 minutes faster than the A standard!
RE: Jon Brown's age is
The standards must be stiff because no-one has managed to achieve them.
I think there is a difference between winning the marathon and just qualifying to compete.
I'm totally against tourists competing, why in her mid-30's is Helen Clitheroe the best we can muster in the steeplechase for example.
Why not give athletes the experience of competing on the big stage and you do that by setting difficult but still achievable standards.
What would you like a qualifying standard of 2.07 or the like for the marathon, in which case the field would be pretty small?
Fair point
Agreed. We have very major endurance problems - witness the shambles at the world cross country championships and the fact Farah is the only qualifier in the 5km and there is no-one in the 10km.
They situation is even more acute in the womens - if Radcliffe goes it means we won't have anyone in the 5km, 10km or marathon.
Not sure what Ian Stewart is going to do about it other than go down to St Mary and persaude a few Kenyans to switch allegiances.
Farah still has a long way to go in my book before challenging, I'm not sure he's got the appetite and the application to train for the marathon. No wondered Jon Brown went to Canada.
re: Fair point
I think Farah has the right mentality for running well over the longer distance. His mileage is similar to that of top marathon runners (peaking at circa 120 mile during the winter), and his performance in London this year over 10k said much about how he would cope on the roads of the capital in the 26 mile event.
Women's front looks pretty dire especially at 5000. The reality is that in a sport like distance running, cultivating future stars needs to begin in the early teens. In other sport like cycling (as demonstrated by Romero's olympic success) it is relatively easy to develop winners in a short time. We need to think about rebuilding with a view to medalling in 2015 Worlds and 2016 games.
There are people coming through but they seem to be mainly 800/1500 specialists. On that note Twell should ditch the 1500 for the 5000 after this season.
Not sure what to say about
Not sure what to say about this. In the last 10 years we've only had two athletes go sub 2:10. Mark Steinle has sropped off the scene, and Jon Brown - who although a great servant to British athletics - will be past 40 by the time 2012 comes around.
All we can hope for is that the likes of Abyu & Robinson can begin challenging for commonwealth and European honours. There are a few guys coming through like Wicks & Whitby, and potentially Farah at some stage. But it seems that unless you can run a 27 flat 10,000 on the track, you won't be in with a chance of a medal at Worlds or Olympics based on the way times are going.
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