Meet the runners: Belgrave's London Marathon 2019 lineup
At least nine athletes are set to represent Belgrave at this year's London Marathon.
Here's a little bit about who to follow on April 28th, with more details - including bib numbers for tracking - to follow.
Dan Wallis
With a last-minute spot in the elite start, Dan won't score for Belgrave in the club race but should be very confident of bettering his 2:19:24 PB set in Berlin in 2017. Last year's open race winner has been training at altitude out in Ethiopia since March, and in Colorado before that. His training partner looks decent too.
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Marathon best: 2:19:24 (Berlin, 2017)
HM best: 65:34 (Philadelphia, 2015)
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IAAF profile
Tish Jones
Belgrave cross country legend Tish, now living and training in South Africa, returns to race in London for the first time since her heroic 2:33 in 2017.
Marathon best: 2:33 (London, 2017)
HM best: 72:55 (Reading, 2014)
London hopes: I am really hoping to reach VLM with much more confidence in myself, to execute a great race.
Why London? I am running London as it is an important marathon major and has the potential to push me to achieve the best I can against the strongest competition.
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Ben MacCronan
New recruit Ben will battle with Andrius to be the first Belgravian across the finish line in the Championship race. This Spring the 220km-a-week man set a new 10k PB of 31:09 (Battersea Park, April) and ran Belgrave's second fastest long leg at the Southern Road Relays (Milton Keynes, March). He's trained consistently and is in great form.
Marathon best: 2:24:17 (Lake Biwa, Japan, 2016)
HM best: 1:08:53 (Blackmores Running Festival, Sydney, 2017)
Hopes for London: To run a PB.
Why London? It's a good opportunity to chase a fast time on a quality course.
Andrius Jaksevicius
With a minute on Ben, Andrius Jaksevicius has the fastest marathon PB of all Belgravians in the Championship lineup, and certainly has a sub-2:20 in him. A dynamite XC season saw him take home the Cross Country Plate ahead of Paskar, and a brief spell on the sidelines with a quad issue has been the only minor blemish on his buildup - but don't expect that to bother him too much.
Marathon best: 2:23 (London, 2017)
HM best: 69:50 (Woking, 2017)
Power of 10
Bradley Courtney-Pinn
Teacher Brad joined us from Pontypridd in summer 2018 and saw his training with the Battersea boys rewarded with a solid cross country showing and a superb 72' PB in the Big Half in early March. His marathon PB looks very likely to improve (and he's a teacher).
Marathon best: 2:42 (London, 2017)
HM best: 72 (Big Half, March 2019)
Power of 10
Rochelle Basil
New Zealand international Rochelle will run for Belgrave at London, fresh from the World Cross in Aarhus, Denmark and with a great record of fast times in Europe. She trains for most of the year in Fairfax, Virginia.
Marathon best: 2:39:15 (Frankfurt, October 2018)
HM best: 1:15:45 (Cardiff Half, Commonwealth Champs, October 2018)
London hopes: Dare I say it ... sub 2:36
Why London? Great competitive field and course, chance to compete at a world major while rocking the Belgrave kit, all my PRs are from Europe so why stop now?! Plus I've been promised post race Guinness and fish n chips :)
Andrew Cumine
Andrew took a while to return to top form following last year's VLM, but a tasty 73 at the Big Half off the back of a solid XC season has his 2:42 marathon best looking in serious peril.
Marathon best: 2:39 (Loch Ness, 2017)
HM best: 72:23 (Big Half, 2018)
Power of 10
London hopes: After last year's race. a temperature of 8°C would be nice.
Why London? Its my home town marathon, and the atmosphere is incredible.
Garret Lee
Garret first raced for Belgrave when his job brought him to London for the Autumn 2017 XC season. He returned last summer for some SAL splashing and has since dropped a hugely impressive 70' half. He's targeting a sub-2:30 marathon and the highly popular Denver lad will have the full support of Belgravians on the streets of London.
Marathon best: 2:40 (Colorado, 2017)
HM best: 1:10:47 (Philadelphia, 2018)
London goals: Sub-2:30 would be good. 2:27 would be great. 2:25 would be ecstatic.
Why London? A mixture of PTSD from the Boston Marathon last year, love for my Belgrave friends and the city of London, and wanting to knock this world major off my bucket list.
Will Johnson
Will joined us from Tyne Bridge last summer and has been a regular at Surrey League XC fixtures and Battersea Park training sessions ever since. The Asos model and post-hardcore bassist is targeting a sub-3 debut at London.
Bib number:10663
Marathon best: Never ran a marathon before!
HM best:1:21:59, Brass Monkey Half Marathon
What are you hoping for at London? Sub 3, hopefully!
Why are you running London?
Entered the ballot thinking I'd never get in on the first try, and here we are! But also going to raise some money for charity since it's my first marathon: www.virginmoneygiving.com/will_johnson
Iona Cousland
Info to follow.
Justine Lynch
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Triathlete Justine had an impressive couple of runouts for the Belles at the Surrey County Champs and the South of the Thames 5-miler this cross country season before looking to beat her 3:09 at 2015's VLM.
Marathon best: 3:09:40 (London, 2015)
HM best: 86:09 (Cambridge, 2017)