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London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher has said he is “doing the opposite of a rain dance” ahead of Sunday’s rescheduled event because he believes world records could fall on the track at lightning speed. if conditions permit.
Brasher’s comments came after she announced that the fourth fastest woman in the race, emerging Ethiopian star Degitu Azimeraw, had been forced to retire after failing a Covid-19 test, along with Ethiopian coach Haji Adilo.
The 21-year-old Azimeraw’s loss is a blow given that she ran the second-fastest debut marathon time for a woman when she won in 2:19:26 in Amsterdam last October and is seen as the next big star in the women’s marathon.
However, Brasher confirmed that all the other Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes in Sunday’s race, including world record holders Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei, had passed their tests before hitting a biosecure bubble outside London on Monday.
“We have welcomed some 40 athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia,” Brasher said. “All athletes are evaluated before leaving their country, then they are further evaluated when they enter the hotel and again on the Friday before the race.
“However, one athlete and one coach tested positive in their country and as a result they did not get on the plane: Degitu Azimerew and Haji Adilo, the coach of Shura Kitata and Alemu Megertu.”
Due to the pandemic, the 2020 race will take place on a non-traditional course consisting of 19.6 laps around St James’s Park, encompassing The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Birdcage Walk and Buckingham Palace. But Brasher insisted it was faster than the usual route and that records could drop if the weather remained dry.
“Heavy rains are not the ideal conditions to set a world record. So we are doing the opposite of a rain dance. We have some athletes in very good shape, but they have all been training in unique conditions and we cannot control the weather. Therefore, it is probably the most difficult marathon to predict. But I think there will be some amazing races that will live long in people’s memories, and it could be incredibly fast. “
Brasher also confirmed that he would support athletes who kneel before the start of the race. “Black Lives Matter is hugely important. We do not know what the athletes are going to do but we will support them in whatever they want to do. That is the power that sport has to raise awareness ”.
