Paula Radcliffe has to pull out of London Marathon 2009

March 5, 2009

Britain’s marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe is out of next months London marathon (26.4.09) after breaking a toe in training. The three time winner of the London race suffered the injury on the right second toe while altitude training in the United States (New Mexico). It is believed that the injury may have been forced by a ganglion, a swelling that forms around the tendons or joints, that might have changed her foot dynamics.

Radcliffe stated that she is considering surgery to get 100% fit as soon as physically possible and to prevent future problems.

Radcliffe now shifts the focus on the World Championship marathon in Berlin this year. With Germany’s Irina Mikitenko, Romanian Constantina Dita, Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and many other superb runners the London marathon will nevertheless provide a race to watch. The women’s elite field consists of the following runners:

Irina Mikitenko GER 2:19:19
Catherine Ndereba KEN 2:18:47
Zhou Chunxiu CHN 2:19:51
Berhane Adere ETH 2:20:42
Lyudmila Petrova RUS 2:21:29
Constantina Dita ROM 2:21:30
Svetlana Zakharova RUS 2:21:31
Gete Wami ETH 2:21:34
Yuri Kano JPN 2.24.27
Tomo Morimoto JPN 2.24.33
Mara Yamauchi GBR 2:25:03
Martha Komu KEN 2:25:33
Mika Okunaga JPN 2.27.52
Kirsten Melkevik Otterbu NOR 2:29:12
Inga Abitova RUS 2:33:55
Kate O’Neill USA 2:34:04
Liliya Shobukhova RUS Debut
Jo Pavey GBR Debut