2011 London Marathon Men's Race Contenders

2011 London Marathon Men's Race Contenders
by Sharon Ekstrom

Jump to: Tsegaye Kebede | Patrick Makau | Abel Kirui | James Kwambai | Sammy Wanjiru | Martin Lel | Bazu Worku | Jaouad Gharib | Emmanuel Mutai | Viktor Röthlin | Abderrahim Bouramdane | Marilson Gomes dos Santos | The Americans

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Kebede winning the 2010 London Marathon

Tsegaye Kebede
PB: 2:05:18, 2009 Fukuoka Marathon

Tsegaye Kebede emerged as a great marathoner over the past three years continuing the legacy of great Ethiopian distance runners like Abebe Bikili and world marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie. With ten career marathons by the age of 24, Kebede is a consistent top performer with three 2:05 finishes in 2009 and 2010 in highly competitive fields; but his bronze medals at the 2008 Beijing Games and 2009 World Championships along with victories of the 2008 & 2009 Fukuoka Marathon, 2008 Paris Marathon and 2010 London Marathon have truly solidified his status as one of the world's best.

In 2007, the year of the Ethiopian Millennium, Kebede debuted in the marathon. Off the radar he ran to victory at the 2007 Abebe Bikila Marathon held at altitude in Ethiopia (2:15:53). Despite running an uninspiring 2:08:16 (8th place) at the 2007 Amsterdam Marathon, he had a milestone year in 2008. Kebede took on more competitive fields - placing 2nd at the 2008 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon losing to Patrick Makau (KEN) by just tenths of a second (59:35), winning the 2008 Paris Marathon (2:06:40) and after winning a spot on the Ethiopian Olympic Marathon team taking bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (2:10:00) passing fellow countryman Deriba Merga on the track in the last hundred meters. And to end the year, he broke the course record previously held by Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) at the Fukuoka Marathon with a victory in 2:06:10.

Kebede spent 2009 bettering his times amidst deeply competitive fields. As the London Marathon left many broken by the blistering pace in the fastest half marathon split of a marathon ever run (61:35) and a number of surges from Beijing Olympic gold medalist Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru. Kebede held on to finish second to Wanjiru with a time of 2:05:20 - breaking 2:06 for the first time, a feat that only a small handful of men had ever accomplished. He continued a streak of top three finishes in his next marathons with a bronze medal at the World Championships in Berlin (2:08:35) and a repeat victory of Fukuoka with a personal best of 2:05:18.

For 2010, Kebede returned to the London Marathon ready to battle a field of three of the fastest Kenyans in the competition (Kibet, Kirui and Wanjiru). In top form, he dropped most of the field at mile 17 including Wanjiru and ended the Kenyan streak becoming the second Ethiopian to win the esteemed event. Incidentally, he also finished one solid minute ahead of his competition in a 2:05:19, one second off his personal best and nine seconds off the course record. At the 2010 Chicago Marathon, Kebede was rematched against Wanjiru once again and in a nail-biting sprint to the finish Kebede could not break the defending champion and took second in 2:06:43. Kebede remains a favorite in the 2011 London Marathon field where he will once again take on Sammy Wanjiru and a stellar field of 2:04-2:05 marathoners looking for a possible Olympic team qualifier.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Makau at the 2010 RAK Half Marathon

Patrick Makau
PB: 2:04:48, 2010 Rotterdam Marathon

The fastest man in the 2011 London Marathon field is Kenyan Patrick Makau who will be competing in London for the first time and against a top caliber field which will definitely test his abilities in the marathon distance. Makau known best in the road racing circuit for his 10K and half marathon performances first stepped up to the marathon distance in 2009. At that time the second fastest half marathoner in the world behind Sammy Wanjiru (KEN), Makau made his debut at the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon, a race which has seen 3 world record finishes in he past and a launch pad for young marathoners to test themselves, garner world class fast times before taking on world marathon majors races. The race was a historic one as top Kenyans (Kirui and Kwambai) grabbed the national record 2:04:27 bridging the gap between Gebrselassie's seemingly untouchable world record (2:03:59). Although Makau finished fourth in a 2:06:14, this was one of the fastest marathon debuts (fastest debut belongs to Evans Rutto in 2:05:50, 2003 Chicago Marathon). Later that year, Makau did not finish the 2009 New York City Marathon.

Meanwhile, a crop of young new African runners flooded marathon fields aiming for world record times or bust and Makau was loosely grouped in the batch; but his status as third fastest half marathoner in the world behind Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) and Zersenay Tadese (ERI) and holder of 3 of the top 10 fastest finishes in the 13.1 mile distance had merit. Race organizers held onto hope that Makau had yet to shine. And shine he did with his return to the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon. Makau took victory in a 2:04:48 becoming the fourth fastest marathoner ever and securing the fastest marathon finish of 2010.

He followed up that stellar performance at the 2010 Berlin Marathon. With world record holder Gebrselassie notably absent from this world record course, Makau and two others had sights on a new record time, but hopes were dashed by heavy rains during the race. Makau soldiered on, out-kicking 2010 Rotterdam Marathon rival Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) in the final kilometer to win in 2:05:08.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Kirui at the 2010 ING New York City Marathon

Abel Kirui
PB: 2:05:09, 2009 Rotterdam Marathon

Kenyan Abel Kirui certainly came into form in 2009 beginning with an incredible personal best finish at the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon in 2:05:04. This 3rd place finish put him in the top 10 all-time best marathon performances and was from a historic race which raised the bar in marathoning making 2:05 nearly a standard for top elite fields. Part of this new generation of young Kenyans racing the clock, Kirui who had been "one-to-watch" solidified his reputation as a serious competitor at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin where he set a fast pace early on, then took the lead without fading. He won gold on a warm day in a super fast 2:06:54.

Kirui began his marathoning career with some unremarkable finishes at his first two marathons in 2006 at the Berlin Marathon (2:17:47) and the Singapore Marathon, (2:15:22). A defining moment in his career came when Kirui returned to the 2007 Berlin Marathon as a pacemaker to assist Haile Gebrselassie to his 2:04:26 World Record run. Race officials allowed Kirui to finish the race and he finished as runner-up in 2:06:51. Successful as a pacer, he did the same for "Geb" at the 2008 Dubai Marathon and the 2009 Berlin Marathon. In the interim, Kirui experienced his first victory at the 2008 Vienna Marathon (2:07:38)...And the rest is history.

Kirui is now ranked ninth fastest marathoner in the world - one spot ahead of Sammy Wanjiru. Yet, since the world championships, Kirui has had less than stellar performances - 13th at the Sapporo Half Marathon in 64:17, 5th at the London Marathon in 2:08:04 and 9th at the New York City Marathon in 2:13:01 citing the poor performance as a result of contracting typhoid prior to the race. After New York he nursed a tendon and knee injury as well as bouts of malaria and pneumonia.

He returned to racing at the 2011 Paris Half Marathon finishing 7th in a 62:08; which was enough to give him hope to break 2:06 in London. And while other athletes have not announced their race schedule months in advance, at press time prior to the 2011 London Marathon Kirui will not be defending this title this summer at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu and will instead pursue a world record time at the 2011 Berlin Marathon. But first thing is first, he will have to battle an extremely deep field at the 2011 London Marathon.

Photo Credit: MarathonGuide.com - Kwambai at the 2007 Boston Marathon

James Kwambai
PB: 2:04:27, 2009 Rotterdam Marathon

James Kwambai (KEN), the third fastest man in the world, happens to be the fastest man on the 2011 London Marathon roster. But Kwambai did not burst into the marathon scene in the same glory that some other top elites in the field can boast. He slowly worked his way up in the marathoning world and experienced the ups and the downs with 11 marathons on his race resume. It began with a victory at his debut at the 2006 Brescia Marathon at the age of 20 in 2:10:20. He has since seen six top 5 finishes at marathons, most notably runner-up at 2007 Boston Marathon (2:14:33, during a Nor'easter), 5th at the 2007 New York City Marathon (2:12:25), 2nd at the 2008 Berlin Marathon (2:05:36, behind Haile Gebrselassie's world record) and 2nd at the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon.

The 2009 Rotterdam Marathon proved there to be no question of his talents, as he was slightly edged out by his training partner Duncan Kibet in a sprint finish where both crossed the line in 2:04:27. Both are credited as Kenyan National Record Holders in the marathon, a worthy accomplishment given the great numbers of top distance runners from the country. And both also share the honor of holding the second fastest time ever run at the marathon. He followed-up that race at the 2009 New York City Marathon where Kwambai pushed a punishing pace at mile 18, destroying the field and perhaps his own race with a blistering 4:48 mile split which had its consequences. Citing stomach issues, he reached mile 21 / 35K mark and dropped out of the race.

For 2010, Kwambai returned to the Rotterdam Marathon as the favorite in the field having achieved 2:04 in 2009. In good health, he targeted the world record; yet, Kwambai failed to perform well finishing 20th in 2:24:07. One had no idea what to expect when he arrived at the 2010 New York City Marathon. As the top Kenyan entrant, Kwambai made no fancy breakaways; but held to the final four as the lead pack was broken apart by a surge with over 10K to go. Kwambai rallied until he was dropped by the leaders at mile 21 and faded into fifth place crossing the finish in 2:11:31. To test his fitness Kwambai raced the Rotterdam Half finishing 6th in 60:01...will it be good enough to take to his next race?

At 28, Kwambai is pushing the older end of the spectrum in regard to age with top Kenyan elites in competition at the moment in their early 20s and not yet humbled by years of competition in 26.2 miles. For 2011 he has chosen to race the London Marathon for the first time. And with the 2012 London Olympics Games looming, this may be his last chance to prove himself worthy of the Kenyan Olympic team and to solidify his position as one of the world's best marathoners.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Wanjiru winning the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Sammy Wanjiru - WITHDRAWN
PB: 2:05:10, 2009 London Marathon

The pressure is on for Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya. Wanjiru exploded onto the running scene breaking the half marathon world record at age 18 at the 2005 Rotterdam Half-Marathon (59:16). He soon made a name for himself in 2007 securing the half marathon world record title two times over with victories at Ras al Khaimah (58:53) and The Hague (58:33); then, topping off the year with a victory in his marathon debut at the Fukuoka Marathon (his slowest marathon finish to date - 2:06:39). The buzz spread that Wanjiru seemed one of the only men capable of breaking legendary Haile Gebrselassie's marathon world record (2:03:59 - 2008 Berlin Marathon).

Wanjiru earned additional accolades including a gold medal in the fastest Olympic finish ever through the heat and humidity of the 2008 Beijing Games Men's Marathon (2:06:32), a course record in London (2009, 2:05:10), a course record in Chicago (2009, 2:05:41, the fastest time ever run in North America); but he has yet to break the World Record and cannot rest on his laurels yet.

This soon-to-be 24 year old has pressure mounting as a batch of younger, faster fellow Africans have stepped up their performances nearly knocking him out of the top ten fastest marathoners of all time and stealing his half marathon world record title away. And to compound things, this Kenyan whose early running roots can be traced to training in Japan, has had minor setbacks thus far in 2010...a DNF at the 2010 London Marathon citing knee issues resulting from rerouted flights and extended periods of travel caused by the volcanic ash cloud that put most of Europe at a standstill earlier this year. A second place finish to Martin Lel at the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans (Lel beat Wanjiru in their last head-to-head at the 2008 London Marathon) and a DNF at the Castelbuono 11.3K.

Wanjiru returned to Chicago in 2010 aiming for a record time; but warm conditions hampered that goal. Nonetheless, the race was one for the books as Wanjiru battled against the London Marathon champion and bronze medalist from the 2008 Beijing Games Tsegaye Kebede in an exciting sprint to the finish. It was Wanjiru who showed the most strength and pulled ahead taking the victory in 2:06:24.

One year from the 2012 London Olympics and Wanjiru has had been embroiled in public headlines...and not for his athleticism. Initially charged with attempted murder of his wife, assault to his bodyguard and illegal possession of a firearm, Wanjiru was cleared of charges and seems to have made amends with his wife. Only to have escaped from a car accident with minor injuries. And now following the tragic events following the earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, Japan where Wanjiru had gone to high school and began his running career - will Wanjiru have had enough solid focus and training to prevail in London and reclaim his victory? Is he still capable of a world record time?

If he plans to remain at the top of his game and add another course record or a world record to his resume - this defending champion will have to dig deep as the challengers such as 2010 London champion Tsegaye Kebede and a field of men faster than Wanjiru will not only be looking for a fast victory, but some top Kenyans will be vying for a position on the Kenyan Olympic team. Wanjiru has a lot on the line, but as a man who tends to keep the promises he makes...expect Wanjiru to surprise us.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Lel at the 2010 Falmouth Road Race

Martin Lel
PB: 2:05:15, 2008 London Marathon

Three-time London Marathon champion, Martin Lel will return to the 2011 London Marathon field. Once the fourth fastest marathoner in the world with a 2:05:15 (London 2008), this Kenyan has been a consistent performer with top-three finishes at almost every marathon he has run. Although his impressive podium streak was broken at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a 5th place finish (2:10:24), this Kenyan's collection of victories from the New York City Marathon (2003-2:10:30, 2007-2:09:04) and London Marathon (2005-2:07:26, 2007-2:07:41, 2008-2:05:15) remained impressive. It was no surprise that Lel sat out of a fall marathon.

2009 started off strong with two victories at the 2009 Lisbon Half (59:56) and Great North Run (59:32-two seconds off his personal best); but ended early as a hip injury forced Lel to withdraw from both the London Marathon and New York City Marathon. Lel met further setbacks due to injury going into 2010 after winning the Rock ?n? Roll Half in New Orleans. Forced to withdraw from the 2010 London Marathon, Lel has not run a marathon since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At 32, this veteran marathoner has much more competition to contend with. In London there will be six other top elite athletes who have run 2:05 finishes or faster. Regardless, Lel has never backed down from a fight. If his fitness is there on race day, perhaps he can see his 4th victory at the race.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Worku at the 2010 Berlin Marathon

Bazu Worku
PB: 2:05:25, 2010 Berlin Marathon

At 20 years old, Ethiopian Bazu Worku is the youngest in the elite London Marathon field; but don't let that fool you. He garnered a second place finish in his marathon debut at the 2009 Paris Marathon while setting the World Juniors Record in 2:06:15, one of the fastest marathon debuts ever.

He followed up that performance with two 3rd place finishes - a 2:09:54 at the 2010 Ottawa Marathon and a 2:05:25 on the rainy streets of the 2010 Berlin Marathon. A silver medalist from the Ethiopian 30K National Championships, his racing experience has been limited to a few road races and the marathon distance since late 2008.

Worku is the fourth fastest Ethiopian marathoner to date and remains one to watch as his career is just beginning.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Gharib at the 2010 Fukuoka Marathon

Jaouad Gharib
PB: 2:05:27, 2009 London Marathon

Jaouad Gharib, two-time World Champion (2003 and 2005) and two-time Olympian, is the oldest runner in the elite field; but his career of top finishes at London, Chicago, New York and Fukuoka Marathons and recent performances prove that age has not slowed down this Moroccan. On the eve of his thirty-ninth birthday, when most marathoners are past their peak years of running, Gharib is still going strong. This veteran of the London Marathon returns for his 7th time, having run from 2004-2010 sitting out in 2008 to rest up for the Olympics Games. The plan worked as he won silver (2:07:16). at the 2008 Beijing Games. He followed-up with a third place at the 2009 London Marathon. Gharib was matched against a crop of aggressive marathoners [14 years his junior] and proved that age is meaningless as he set a personal best and Moroccan National Record in 2:05:27. Other highlights in 2009 include a 2nd place finish at the Lisbon Half-Marathon (59:59 - 3 seconds short of his personal best from the 2004 edition of the race), a 3rd place finish at the Great North Run (60:03) and a 3rd place finish at the New York City Marathon (2:10:25).

In 2010 Gharib returned to the London Marathon where he placed third once again in 2:06:55 over a minute slower than the previous year. He rounded out the year with a marathon victory - his first since the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki.

With seven sub 2:08 career marathons, Gharib undoubtedly has the most experience in the field and the mental toughness that has made runners such as Meb Keflezighi (USA) a top runner through the years. While Gharib has been able to hold with these fast crowds in the past, the 2011 London field may be one of the toughest he will ever face. There is no doubt that his aggressive surging tactics throughout the race while retaining a finishing kick has made him a formidable threat, but will he be able to do it again and claim a victory?

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Mutai at the 2010 London Marathon

Emmanuel Mutai
PB: 2:06:15, 2008 London Marathon

With five 2:06 marathons by age 26, Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai may not be the fastest in the 2011 London Marathon field, but he has proven himself a worthy contender having four sub 2:07 Marathon finishes from the Amsterdam Marathon (2:06:29, 2007) and the London Marathons (2:06:16, 2008; 2:06:53, 2009; and 2:06:23, 2010). And his garnering second place finishes at his last 3 marathons.

Despite a first marathon victory at the 2007 Amsterdam Marathon, Mutai had flown under the radar in highly competitive fields; but quickly his talents began to resonate. At the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, he was one of the only competitors able to keep up with Abel Kirui's pace earning him silver (2:07:48) and contributing to a Kenyan team victory.

In 2010, Mutai completed three half marathons - the Discovery Half Marathon (61:13) and most notably the Lisbon Half held in spring (60:03, 3rd place) where he beat Duncan Kibet, the Kenyan marathon record holder, by almost 20 seconds and the slightly warm conditions of the fall Lisbon Half (63:18, 5th place). Mutai proved himself in the marathon distance on the 2010 London Marathon course as runner-up in a time of 2:06:23, behind one of the most consistent marathoners to date, Tsegaye Kebede. And in his first race in the USA, Mutai ran the New York City taking the role of the leader early on, but was eclipsed in the final mile of the race as his energy faded. He took second once again in 2:09:18.

A half-marathon specialist, unlike previous years Mutai is going into the 2011 London Marathon without having another pre-marathon race to test his fitness. Mutai has much to prove on as he will rematch many competitors from his race past and on the eve of the 2011 World Championships and 2012 London Olympics.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Röthlin at the 2010 European Championships Marathon

Viktor Röthlin
PB: 2:07:23, 2008 Tokyo Marathon

Olympian Viktor Röthlin, is a veteran in the marathon distance with 17 races to his resume and a career which began at the 1999 Hamburg Marathon where he finished 12th in 2:13:36. This Swiss National Record holder was an Olympian in the 2000 and 2008 Olympics, bronze medalist from the brutally hot 2007 World Championships (2:17:25) and winner of the Zurich Marathons in 2004 (2:09:56) and 2007 (2:08:20).

Röthlin made great strides in and since 2008 when he broke the 2:08 mark after racing the distance for the fifteenth time, winning the 2008 Tokyo Marathon in 2:07:23. He went on to finish sixth at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2:10:35; but in 2009 he suffered from a life threatening double pulmonary embolism. Röthlin rebounded and eighteen months later won the European Championships (2:15:31) on a hot and humid day in Barcelona.

The win following an astonishing comeback, but at the 2010 New York City Marathon, Röthlin failed to finish. The question remains whether this 36 year old reigning European champion can return to his 2008 fitness levels, as he takes on the highly competitive field at the 2011 Boston Marathon.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Bouramdane at the 2010 NYC Half Marathon

Abderrahim Bouramdane
PB: 2:07:33, 2010 London Marathon

With 11 top 5 finishes to his resume, Olympian Moroccan Abderrahim Bouramdane has been under the radar on top elite rosters for some time. While he has yet to win a world marathon majors event, he's been very close. Having gotten an early taste for victory Tunisia Marathon, Marrakesh and Ottawa Marathons, he finished second at the 2006 Toronto Waterfront Marathon in a 2:10:41 which brought him to the next level of racing…

With hard work, Bouramdane broke 2:10 for the first time in South Korea with a 2:08:20 at the 2007 Seoul Marathon. He then follows up with a runner-up finish at the 2008 Boston Marathon in 2:08:04. Despite not performing well at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he raced the 2008 New York City Marathon months later finishing 5th in 2:13:33.

Bouramdane saw no improvements in 2009 after a DNF at the Lake Biwa Marathon and a 5th place at the 2008 New York City Marathon (2:13:33). He redeemed himself when he set a personal best 2:07:33 (4th place finish) at the 2010 London Marathon, evidence that he is still showing improvements and despite a 2:14:07 (10th place) at the 2010 NYC Marathon, his return to London may produce stellar results.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Gomes dos Santos at the 2010 ING New York City Marathon

Marilson Gomes dos Santos
PB: 2:08:27, 2007 London Marathon

Two-time champion of the New York City Marathon Champion, Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil, will be returning to the start line of the London Marathon for the fourth time. After a disappointing 2010, he's in peak fitness and looking forward to the spring race season, specifically the 2011 London Marathon, both professionally and personally - having recently celebrated the birth of a new baby boy, Miguel.

Having flown under the radar in most marathon fields, his performances at world class races include 9 top ten performances. Some remarkable performances include a debut at the 2004 Paris Marathon in 2:12:22 (6th place), 2004 Chicago Marathon in 2:08:48 (6th place), the 2005 World Championships in 2:13:40 (10th place), 2006 New York City Marathon in 2:09:58 (1st place), 2007 London Marathon in 2:08:46 (6th place) and the 2010 New York City Marathon in 2:11:51 (7th place).

Yet, it was 2006 when Gomes dos Santos became a major player in elite fields as he snuck away from the lead pack at the New York City Marathon to win in 2:09:58. That year no one in the field knew who he was, and the Brazilian was able to repeat his victory once again in 2008 (2:08:43). With a personal best of 2:08:37 from the 2007 London Marathon and one sub-60:00 half marathon finish at the 2007 World Championships Half Marathon (59:33, 7th place), dos Santos cannot be discounted in the 2011 London Marathon field given his experience in the distance and on this course. Anything can happen in a marathon. And if the leaders who are capable of 2:05 finishes don't start at a blistering pace, Gomes dos Santos who has found a winning race strategy in the marathon may be flying under the radar once again.

When MarathonGuide.com caught up with Gomes dos Santos weeks ago, he believed he was in personal best fitness. He ran the 2011 New York City Half in a 61:23 (8th place). Although not a victory; it was his third fastest half marathon finish ever which is impressive since his two fastest finishes date back to 2007. He will not back down from the competitive field in London; because he also has his sights on something bigger - a qualifier to represent Brazil in the 2012 London Olympics, then the Olympic Games themselves.

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer - Trafeh at the 2011 US Half Marathon Championships

The Americans

An unusual amount of American runners will head to the London Marathon this year to test themselves on the fast course. While they may not be competitive enough to beat the fastest in the world who are gathered once again for the 2011 edition of the race; but they are definitely worth more than a mention. And with the 2012 Olympics looming, many of these distance runners will be eyeing a spot on the US Olympic Marathon Team.

Jason Lehmkuhle, an alternate for the 2008 US Olympic marathon team to Beijing and top 10 performer at Boston, New York and two Olympic Trials Marathons in the past. Lehmkuhle trains with Team USA Minnesota. His personal best of 2:12:24 at the 2010 Boston Marathon earned him a 10th place; but his victory of the esteemed 2011 Ohme-Hochi 30K Road Race in Tokyo (1:32:08) may show that he is fit to lower his personal best on a flat, fast course.

Mo Trafeh, winner of the 2011 Half Marathon National Championships (62:17) and the 15K National Championships (42:58), will be making his marathon debut. This Moroccan born American who is self-coached began as a 1500m specialist. Trafeh was planning on quitting professional running to go back to school until 2010 winning the 15K National Championships for the first time and 3rd place at the New York City Half Marathon (60:39). While he may not go out with the 2:04/2:05 runners, he will be testing his abilities and thinking about qualifying for the US Olympic team for 2012.

Patrick Smyth, runner up at the 2010 Half Marathon National Championships (62:01) and bronze medalist at the 2011 edition of the race (62:32), is just getting his feet wet when it comes to road racing. With a background in 3000m and 5000m, Smyth followed up his strong performance at the 2011 National Championships in Houston with the New York City Half Marathon where he was looking to compete well and better his times. Although he has a DNF, he mentioned that his focus was mainly on the 2011 London Marathon where he will look a solid group to pace with and stick with in his debut. He has been training in Mammoth with Meb Keflezighi and Alistair Cragg and coached by Terence Mahon.

Jorge Torres, best known on the track and cross country circuits, has shown much potential in the distance having followed his twin brother (Eduardo) into the marathon distance fairly late in the game. Torres had been a 5000 specialist for about a decade and was 3rd at the 2008 USA 10,000m Championships (27:46.33). At the 2009 Great Edinburgh Cross Country 9.0k champs he and his twin brother tied for 13th place and were top Americans in 28:05. Torres won the 2009 Oregon Track Club Open (28:16.81 PR) edging out his brother who is a specialist in the distance by hundredths of seconds. Other accomplishments include a victory at the 2008 Men's 8000m Championship in New York City (22:41.2) and personal bests at the 2009 Great North Run (62:42, 7th place), 2009 USA 15k Championships (44:05, 5th place) and 2009 Cross Country 12.0k nationals (36;16, 4th place). Under the tutelage of marathon great Steve Jones, Torres debuted in the 26.2 mile distance at the 2009 New York City Marathon (2:13:00, 7th place). Torres returned to the 2010 New York City Marathon with mixed results, running a 2:14:57, an 11th place finish. Torres will be racing in London for the first time and will undoubtably be looking to run a spectacular time - something this course is known for.