Josh Lunn has a marathon PB of 2:17:59, run at the elite-only London Marathon last October
There was some seriously impressive running 🙌
The British Olympic Marathon Trials took place today (Friday 26 March), on a fast and flat course around Kew Gardens (Robbie Simpson has a marathon PB of 2:14:56, run at the 2019 London Marathon). The marathon runners ran one small lap followed by 12 longer ones, appropriately enough passing Kew’s Japanese gardens a dozen times, and will finish in front of the gardens' famous Palm House.
But who are the runners lining up on the start line and how fast did they need to run to qualify for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games this summer? Here's everything you need to know.
How fast do the runners need to be to qualify?
With Callum Hawkins having been pre-selected, the first two men across the line in sub-2:11:30 will automatically be selected for the Tokyo team. Hawkins was still running in the trials but as a pacemaker.
Olympic hopeful Jonny Mellor, the first British athlete home in October’s Virgin Money London Marathon, was a late withdrawal from the trials due to a freak injury, but he could still be picked if one or both of the top male finishers fail to hit the qualifying time.
Who is running in the men's race?
We've rounded up all of the runners lining up on the start line for the men's marathon this Friday here, as well as their marathon PBs:
Chris Thompson - 02:10:52, 1st male
Chris Thompson had a marathon PB of 2:11:19. He ran the elite-only London Marathon last October, crossing the finish line in 2:13:32.
Ben Connor - 02:12:06, 2nd male
Ben Connor has a marathon PB of 2:11:20, run at the elite-only London Marathon in October 2020. He has already has the qualifying time, so didn't need to break it today.
Frank Baddick - 02:15:58, 8th male
Robbie Simpson has a marathon PB of 2:14:56, run at the 2019 London Marathon.
Tom Evans - DNF
Tom Evans has a marathon PB of 2:26:07, run in Frankfurt in October 2017, although he started out in ultramarathons, winning the CCC in Chamonix, France, and coming third at the Western States 100 in California, US. Andrew Davies has a marathon PB of 2:14:38, run at the Valencia Marathon in 2019.
Adam Hickey - DNF
Adam Hickey has a marathon PB of 2:16:56, run at the Berlin Marathon in 2019. He ran in the elite-only London Marathon last October and crossed the line in 2:17:38.
Nigel Martin - 02:18:09, 10th male
Nigel Martin has a half marathon PB of 1:04:11, which he ran in September 2019.
Mo Aadan - 02:12:20, 3rd male
Mohamud Aadan has a half marathon PB of 62:30, run in 2018.
Matt Clowes - DNF
Frank Baddick has a half marathon PB of 1:03:54, run in Barcelona in February 2020.
Andrew Davies - 02:15:50, 7th male
Andrew Davies has a marathon PB of 2:14:38, run at the Valencia Marathon in 2019.
Dewi Griffiths - 02:13:42, 4th male
Dewi Griffiths has a marathon PB of 2:09:49, run at the Frankfurt Marathon in October 2017, making him the fastest in the field.
Josh Griffiths - 02:15:08, 5th male
Josh Griffiths has a marathon PB of 2:13:11, run at the elite-only London Marathon on 4 October 2020.
Ian Leitch - 02:17:26, 9th male
Ian Leitch had a previous marathon PB of 2:18:33, run at the 2019 Brighton Marathon.
Josh Lunn - DNF
Josh Lunn has a marathon PB of 2:17:59, run at the elite-only London Marathon last October.
Nick Torry - DNF
Mohamud Aadan has a half marathon PB of 62:30, run in 2018.
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