World silver medallist Amanal Petros has an eye on the five-year-old European record as he arrives in confident mood ahead of this Sunday’s (26) London Marathon.
The German, who was pipped for gold at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in a photo finish by Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu, has maintained his ascendency ever since.
He set a new national marathon record when placing second at the Valencia Marathon in 2:04:03 in December and then in March, he added the national record in the half marathon as he placed third in Berlin in 59:22.
The 30-year-old, who won half marathon bronze at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships is seemingly in his prime and fair set for another national record bid. But he also could be set to challenge Bashir Abdi’s European record of 2:03:36 set in Rotterdam in 2021.
Talking to Citius Mag, he discussed the pacemaker plans for the Sunday and his own approach. "They are going to run the first half marathon in 61:55, which is kind of a European record (pace) and after 25 kilometres to keep going or if it’s possible to run more faster."
Stellar field set for London
Petros’ best finish in a marathon major is 8th in London last year, which he looks well placed to improve on this year. The German will not be short of quality competition to extend him in London either.
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe will be attempting to defend his title in the men’s race, world half-marathon record holder Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia and Olympic 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda are all in a sparkling line up.
Mahamed Mahamed, who was fourth in the 2024 London Marathon, leads the British challenge.