Londoner Scott Overall and Scot Callum Hawkins (pictured) have already beaten British Athletics’ men’s qualifying time of 2:14 with confident autumn runs at the Berlin and Frankfurt Marathons respectively. They just need to be among the first two Britons across the line to guarantee a ticket to South America.

Hawkins, in particular, should be full of confidence after running a half marathon best of 62:36 in Paris on 6 March and finishing 15th at the recent World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff.

Among those hoping to join them are Chris Thompson, the 2010 European 10000m silver medallist, who was 11th on his marathon debut in London two years ago, and Leeds City’s Derek Hawkins, Callum’s brother, whose personal best is just four seconds outside the all-important entry mark. He has also set a half marathon PB this year and won the Cardiff half ‘mass race’ on Easter weekend.

Phil Wicks and Lee Merrien could also be in contention, as could Ben Moreau, who has run for Britain and England at recent European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Sonia Samuels and Alyson Dixon are in the driving seat in the women’s race as they both beat the standard of 2:31 at the Berlin Marathon last September.

Samuels was the first Briton home at the London Marathon last year and the Sale Harrier finished ninth in Berlin in a personal best of 2:28:04. Dixon also ran a PB in the German capital and the Sunderland Stroller will be hoping to make up for 2012 when she missed out on the London Games. She was 27th at the World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff.

Susan Partridge could also be in the mix after coming desperately close to the selection time at the Chicago Marathon last October, while Freya Ross has high hopes of making the Olympic team again after running for Britain at London 2012 as a late replacement for Paula Radcliffe.

The talented marathon debutante, Charlotte Purdue, should not be discounted, but the experienced Louise Damen has been forced to pull out with an injury sustained while training in Albuquerque.

Overall, Thompson, Callum Hawkins, Samuel, Dixon, Ross and Partridge will all appear at a press conference at the Tower Hotel, London, on Thursday 21 April. 

Source: Virgin Money London Marathon