Lel and “Catherine the Great” lead London chase!!

April 2009
Reigning champion Martin Lel will lead a stellar cast of Kenyan marathoners in Sunday’s London marathon, which will be broadcast live on SuperSport 5 from 09h45 (CAT).
Lel will be joined by Olympic champion Samuel Wanjiru, Felix Limo and two-time world champion Catherine Ndereba in the quest for another Kenyan sweep on the streets of London just days after Salina Kosgei’s stunning victory in Boston..
Thirty-year-old Lel will be looking to etch his name in the history books by becoming the first man to win the London crown four times. His three victories came in 2005, 2007 and 2008 and he will be aiming to become only the second man to win three in a row, following Mexican Dionicio Ceron.
Lel’s biggest obstacle to attaining the feat will come from fellow countryman Wanjiru. The pair had a fascinating duel in last year’s race with Lel’s superior finishing kick giving him the edge and a new course record -- 2:05:15.
But 22-year-old Wanjiru went one better by winning the Olympic gold medal in a scintillating race that saw him set a new Olympic record of 2:06:32.
Former champion Felix Limo sprinted away from Lel to win the 2006 crown and will be hoping for a repeat performance while Emmanuel Mutai (fourth last year) is also back.
For the last two years Morocco’s Abderrahim Goumri has been the bridesmaid to Kenya’s domination and will again provide the main challenge while Olympic silver medallist Jaouad Gharib, plus Zersanny Tadese and Olympic bronze medallist Tsegaye Kebede will also be in with a shout.
In the women’s race, Ndereba will be chasing one of the few marathon accolades to have escaped her.
A two-time world champion, two-time Olympic silver medalist as well as four-time Boston champion and two-time Chicago champion, “Catherine the Great” is easily the most decorated woman in marathon history.
Her only previous appearance in London was a second place finish in 2003.
She will have company in the shape of Martha Komu, last year’s Paris Marathon winner and fifth-place finisher at the Olympics. She’s relatively new in the ranks but could yet pull off a major shock.
In the absence of world record holder Paula Radcliffe, defending champion Irina Mikitenko and Gete Wami of Ethiopia will provide the stiffest challenge to the Kenyan girls.