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By Bob Ramsak
Olympic marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi has joined the field for the 2007 Flora London Marathon, heading what may be the strongest elite women's field ever over the distance.
“The Flora London Marathon brings together the highest level athletes," said Noguchi, whose 2:19:12 performance at the 2005 real Berlin Marathon made her the third fastest ever."I have decided to go to London because I want the opportunity to test myself against the best athletes in the world.” Noguchi was slated to run in Berlin again in September, but was forced to pull out due to injury. She hasn't raced over the marathon distance since setting the Asian record in Berlin in September 2005.
Other major signings include Asian Games champion, Zhou Chunxiu of China who also dipped under 2:20 this year (2:19:51) to become the eighth fastest marathoner ever, and Ethiopian Berhane Adere of Ethiopia and Russian Galina Bogomolova, first and second respectively in October's Lasalle Bank Chicago Marathon.
Others announced include this year's Berlin winner, Geta Wami of Ethiopia; Kenyan-born Dutchwoman Lorna Kiplagat and Romanian Constantina Tomescu-Dita, the winner and runner-up at October's inaugural edition of the World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, Hungary; Russian Lyudmila Petrova, second in London this year; Benita Johnson of Australia, third in Chicago; Kenyan Salina Kosgei and Russia's European 10,000m champion Inga Abitova. Isabella Ochichi of Kenya, the Olympic 5000m silver medallist, will be making her marathon debut.
"We are extremely pleased to have such a strong field in London including the Olympic Champion," said race director David Bedford. "I feel this is the most competitive women’s field that has ever been assembled in London, and we are looking forward to witnessing a very exciting race."
Bedford added that the April 22 race will be contested under championship conditions, with no male pacemakers.
Elite women's field, with personal bests:
Mizuki Noguchi, JPN, 2:19:12
Chunxiu Zhou, CHN, 2:19:51
Berhane Adere, ETH, 2:20:42
Galina Bogomolova, RUS, 2:20:47
Constantina Tomescu-Dita, ROM, 2:21:30
Geta Wami, ETH, 2:21:34
Susan Chepkemei, KEN, 2:21:46
Lorna Kiplagat, NED, 2:22:22
Lyudmila Petrova, RUS, 2:22.33
Benita Johnson, AUS, 2:22:36
Salina Kosgei, KEN, 2:23:22
Kathy Butler, GBR, 2:28:39
Blake Russell, USA, 2:30:32
Inga Abitova, RUS, 2:33:55
Isabella Ochichi, KEN, Debut
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