05.05.2009

Selectors face marathon task

National selectors will meet in Melbourne today to discuss the marathon representatives to be added to the 39-strong team bound for Berlin to contest the 12th IAAF world championships in August.

Athletes in line for selection to the men’s event will include Martin Dent, Mark Tucker, Scott Westcott and Andrew Letherby.

Marathon stalwart Lee Troop withdrew his name from selection last month, the 37-year-old distance runner opting to focus on entry to the Chicago and/or New York marathons later in the year.

Of the names to be tossed around the selection table Scott Westcott boasts the fastest time by any Australian in a marathon in 2009, his 2:12.56 in Japan’s Beppu-Oita Marathon in February the standout performance of the year to date.

Martin Dent, who posted a world championships B-qualifier and personal best time of 2:14:46 in his first marathon in four years in December, will be hoping for a berth on his first world championships team when selections are announced. 

The 30-year-old backed up his impressive effort in Fukuoka late last year with a 14th place in the London Marathon last month, crossing the line in 2:15:24 just outside Athletics Australia’s world championships B-qualifying standard of 2:14.50.

Also in line for a call-up to the team bound for Berlin are Mark Tucker, who posted a time of 2:13.49 at Fukuoka in December and Andrew Letherby, who stopped the clock just one second later at 2:13.50 in London in April last year.

Selections for the women’s event will also prove a tough assignment with the nation’s top female distance runners all pushing their case for a national berth in recent months.

Selectors may give the nod to up to five representatives in both the men’s and women’s fields to contest the World Cup Marathon teams event, to be run in conjunction with the marathon in Berlin.

An announcement regarding final selections to the team is expected in coming days.