London Marathon 2008 Betting
February 21, 2008
LONDON MARATHON BETTING
For charitable fundraising purposes, the Flora London Marathon is the world’s leading marathon by some distance. One of the foremost images of the race is that of the many thousands of “fun runners” in fancy dress, tramping the cobbles in support of charitable causes dressed as rhinos, football team mascots and the like.
MEN’S ELITE RACE
As of 10th February 2008, the men’s elite field (including personal best times) for the London Marathon is currently as follows:
Paul Tergat (KEN) 2:04:55, Felix Limo (KEN) 2:06:14, Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) 2:06:29, Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) 2:06:39, Martin Lel (KEN) 2:06:41, Hendrick Ramaala (RSA) 2:06:55, Jaouad Gharib (MAR) 2:07:02, Stefano Baldini (ITA) 2:07:22, Yonas Kifle (ERI) 2:07:34, Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 2:07:44, Ryan Hall (USA) 2:08:24, Luke Kibet (KEN) 2:08:52, Aleksey Sokolov (RUS) 2:09:07, Meb Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:53.
Martin Lel of Kenya, the defending champion, will bid to claim his third Flora London Marathon title in four years. The winner in 2005 and 2007, he will become only the third man to win in London three times. However, his task has been made no easier by the addition to the men’s elite field of two of the world’s new marathon stars. The field was already considered to be one of the best ever assembled. The holder of the record for half marathon, Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya and US champion Ryan Hall made superb marathon debuts in 2007. Both men have chosen London as the first major race in their preparations for the Beijing Olympics in August. Twenty-one-year-old Wanjiru finished second to Martin Lel in the 2007 Great North Run and subsequently won the Fukuoka Marathon, with a course record time of 2:06:39. He has stated that he hopes to run inside 2 hours and 5 minutes in London, as he believes this is the standard required for selection to the Kenyan team for the Olympics. Ryan Hall’s place in Beijing is already secure. He won the US Olympic Marathon Trials in New York beating Meb Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist, and former world record holder Khalid Khannouchi. Hall finished seventh on his marathon debut in London last year, with a time of 2:08:24. He subsequently smashed the long-standing (21 years) American half marathon record in Houston, posting a time of 59 minutes 43 seconds.
Other contenders for the men’s race are:
- World Champion Luke Kibet.
- Olympic Champion Stefano Baldini.
- Former World record holder, Paul Tergat.
- Kenya’s Emmanuel Mutai, the world’s second fastest in 2007.
- Abderrahim Goumri, last year’s runner-up.
- South Africa’s Hendrick Ramaala, the 2004 New York champion who’ll be making his seventh London appearance.
- Meb Keflezighi, USA’s Olympic silver medallist.
- Aleksey Sokolov, winner of the 2007 Dublin Marathon in October, setting a new Russian record.
Yonas Kifle, the Eritrean record holder.
WOMEN’S ELITE RACE
World record holder Paula Radcliffe bids to win her fourth Flora London Marathon title on 13th April, facing a rematch against Gete Wami, the Ethiopian she beat in dramatic style to win in New York last November. Radcliffe, victorious in 2002, 2003 and 2005 attempts to become only the second woman to claim four London victories. The feat was achieved by her mentor Ingrid Kristiansen, who won four times in five years, between 1984 and 1988. Radcliffe, will face stiff competition from Wami, an athlete likely to be one of her closest challengers for Olympic gold. Wami was runner-up in New York only a month after winning in Berlin. Wami mad her London debut in 2007, finishing second with a time of 2:21:45. On paper, at least, it is certainly no “two-horse” race. Berhane Adere, the Ethiopian record holder, is the second quickest in the field. She was expected to perform well last year but finished a disappointing 10th.
Radcliffe and Wami will also be challenged by:
- Romania’s Constantina Tomescu-Dita, who was second to Radcliffe in 2005 and third last year.
- Svetlana Zakharova of Russia, a former Chicago Marathon champion.
- Australia’s Benita Johnson, the Oceania record holder.
- Kenya’s Salina Kosgei, who was fourth last year.
- Germany’s Irina Mikitenko, who finished second to Wami in Berlin.
As of 10th February, the Women’s elite field for the London Marathon (including personal best times) is currently:
Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 2:15:25, Berhane Adere (ETH) 2:20:42, Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROM) 2:21:30, Gete Wami (ETH) 2:21:34, Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) 2:21:31, Benita Johnson (AUS) 2:22:36, Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:23:22, Irina Mikitenko (GER) 2:24:51
The 2008 Flora London Marathon takes place on Sunday 13th April.
BETTING ON THE LONDON MARATHON
Online betting opportunities on the London Marathon are limited. The only prices available at 10th February are outright prices on the women’s elite race (see below). Doubtless, in due course, prices will be available on the men’s race.
Elite Men’s Race
No prices available yet.
Elite Women’s Race
Paddy Power is the only online bookmaker currently offering prices:
5/6 P. Radcliffe, 13/8 G. Wami, 6/1 B. Adere, 12/1 S. Zakharova, 16/1 C. Tomersca-Dita.
However, other than betting on the winner of each race, most online sites offer no other markets. Some may offer prices on a new course or world record being set, but sadly little else.
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