FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Athletes supported by London Marathon Events celebrate success
at Tokyo Olympic Games
Athletes supported by London Marathon Events (LME) enjoyed an exceptional
Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Of 30 British endurance runners who received LME funding in 2021, an
incredible 11 won selection for the Team GB athletics team in Tokyo with
Alex Bell, Lizzie Bird and Jake Heyward all making track finals and Bird
even setting a new national record.
Furthermore, teenage 800m sensation Keely Hodgkinson has also benefited
from LME's Playground to Podium pathway for British distance running.
Hogkinson, who won a silver medal and became the fastest Briton ever over
800m, is part of the Leeds Beckett University Training Hub which is one of
two centres in England funded by LME. The 19-year-old has also twice run
the Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon and attended the London
Marathon Events Young Athlete Camp, a week-long camp held annually* for the
best young endurance athletes in the country.
Among the other highlights from London Marathon Events-supported athletes
in Tokyo were:
- Alex Bell reached the women's 800m final, finishing seventh in 1:57:66, a
new personal best (PB) and the sixth fastest time in history by a British
woman. Bell has been on LME elite athlete funding programme for three
years, from 2019.
- Lizzie Bird ran a national record of 9:19:68 to finish ninth in the
women's 3,000m steeplechase final. Bird has been on LME elite athlete
funding for two years, from 2020.
- Jake Heyward reached the men's 1,500m final where he finished ninth. He
set a new PB of 3:32:82 to qualify from the semi-final. Heyward has been on
LME elite athlete funding since 2020.
Other LME-funded athletes who competed in Tokyo were Sam Atkin (10,000m),
Ben Connor (marathon), Steph Davis (marathon), Amy-Eloise Markovc (5,000m),
Jess Piasecki (marathon), Marc Scott (5,000m and 10,000m), Zak Seddon
(3,000m steeplechase) and Chris Thompson (marathon).
Steph Twell (marathon) and Aimee Pratt (3,000m steeplechase), who both
graduated from the LME funding programme to British Athletics funding, were
also in Tokyo.
"Everyone at London Marathon Events congratulates all the athletes for
their fantastic achievements in Tokyo. The Olympic Games will inspire a
whole new generation of athletes thanks to the incredible performances of
athletes like Keely Hodgkinson and we are so proud to have played a part in
their pathway to the top."
- Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events
The London Marathon Events funding programme offers direct support to 30
endurance athletes not on British Athletics support programmes.
It is part of the Playground to Podium pathway created by London Marathon
Events that also includes:
- The Daily Mile: inspiring activity in primary schools by managing and
delivering The Daily Mile programme, which encourages pupils to take part
in at least 15 minutes of activity a day, across London's primary schools
- Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon: iconic races for London
boroughs and UK regions on the streets of London on the day of the world's
greatest marathon plus a virtual edition for schools across the country to
take part in 2.6-mile challenge (more than 250,000 children have already
signed up for the 2021 edition)
- Talent Development Hubs: the support of two training hubs at the
University of Birmingham and Leeds Beckett University, aimed at providing
bases for the country's most promising young athletes, such as Keely
Hodgkinson.
LME has been providing British endurance running with funding since 2001
and also hosts the British Championships for the mile, 10K, half marathon
and marathon distances in addition to dedicated prize funds for British
runners.
Beyond athletics, Tokyo triathlon gold medallists Alex Yee and Georgia
Taylor-Brown both also competed in the Virgin Money Giving Mini London
Marathon.
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