European Athletics (EAA) – News – Pavey targets her best marathon finish in Yokohama

In 10 days' time, British runner Jo Pavey will gauge her future in athletics when she runs her first marathon since being left out of the event for this summer's Olympic Games.

But suddenly her test against herself and the clock has become a little bit tougher.

The decision to cancel last week's ING New York Marathon after the trauma caused by Superstorm Sandy has left runners without a race.

That all seems set to change with between 15 and 20 elite athletes heading to Japan, with plans to compete in Yokohama on 18 November or Fukuoka on 2 December.

The first of those is Pavey's return to the 26.2 miles where she will confront, among others, New Zealander Kimberley Smith, who has twice finished fifth in New York.

Smith, 30, is in Hawaii on a delayed honeymoon, but it is not all about celebration.

After missing out in New York this month, she is preparing for Yokohama in between enjoying time with her new husband Pat Tarpy.

She will be among the favourites for Yokohama where Pavey, 39, will hope to take an important step towards the next Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Pavey had hoped to run the event in London but missed out on selection.

But she turned that adversity to triumph – returning to the track in style and winning silver in the 10,000m at this summer's European Athletics Championships in Helsinki.

Her performances earned her selection for both the 5000m and 10,000m in London where finished seventh in both races.

At the end of last month she won the BUPA Great South Run over 10 miles in Portsmouth and is determined her career is far from over.

Yokohama will present her with the type of challenge she is looking for as she looks to improve on her best marathon finish of ninth in New York in 2:28.42 in 2011.

She had run 2:28:24 earlier last year in London when she was 19th. But Rio is very much on her mind and she said: "I would like to keep going.

"I'm getting older, but still enjoying it. There are still more challenges to go for."

Her two seventh places at the London Olympics made her the leading European in the events and she added: "You never know what's around the corner such as injuries and illness, but younger athletes can suffer just as well.

"I know I'm there to be shot at by my fellow Britons and this is a good thing. But it is also very important to maintain my position as a world class runner and that's my strategy in the next few years."

In the light of no race in New York, Amy Hasting, of America, and Romanian Adrianna Pirtea Nelson are set for Yokohama while Kenyan Wilson Kipsang, who won Olympic bronze this summer, is scheduled to run in the Honolulu Marathon on December 9.

 

 European Athletics (EAA) – News