Robinson Leads UK Hopes

7 APR2011

Britain's leading marathon runner Dan Robinson will start as the big home hope in Sunday's Brighton Marathon. The 36 year old double Olympian was 11th in the 2007 World Championships and won bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The Stroud runner's best time is 2:12:14 in Amsterdam in 2009.

He comes into Sunday's event - the second ever Brighton Marathon - in good form, having recently logged a personal best of 24:06 at the Alsager Five Mile event near Stoke-on-Trent.

His strongest opposition is expected to come from East Africa in the form of Ambesa Tolosa of Ethiopia and Kenyan duo Philemon Kiprop Boit and Richard Bett Rotich. Tolosa won the Paris Marathon back in 2004 with a swift 2:09:56 and was third in the prestigious Lake Biwa race in Japan in 2009 in 2:11:15. Boit has a best of 2:10:55 and Rotich has a best of 2:16:15.

In the women's race, the fastest on the entry list is Gb international Michelle Ross-Cope of Stoke with 2:36:02. 2009 Belfast Marathon winner Sarah Stradling is also entered. She has a best of 2:44:03. However, according to race organisers, both are unlikely to start Sunday's race.

Instead, look towards Bristol and West's Lucy McAllister who has a best of 2:36:27 and Wakefield's Julie Briscoe with a PB of 2:40:46 as ones to watch. Another worth keeping an eye on is Liz McColgan-coached Alyson Dixon who has a best of 2:43:48 from last year's New York Marathon.