Fearnley finishes fifth in London Marathon
9:30pm AEST 25 April 2010
Australian wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley has finished fifth in the London Marathon.
A slow start following a surprise rain downpour on the start line left Fearnley with too much to do, and despite passing a number of athletes in the closing stages he finished well behind surprise winner Josh Cassidy of Canada.
A disappointed Fearnley was pragmatic following the race.
“At least I was in the game” Fearnley said.
“The shower on the start line made it real tough and I just couldn’t stick with the pack. It’s disappointing to not finish on the podium, but this time four days ago I was in Sydney with no chance of making the start line so I’m happy to have raced and lost than not raced at all” he added.
Fearnley’s preparation for the race was severely hampered by the flight chaos across Europe over the past two weeks. His usual preparation has him in London five or more days before the race, this year he had just 48 hours.
“The short preparation was tough but it’s no excuse.
I just couldn’t stick with the guys early on and on such a flat course it’s tough to make up time on your own.
I’m really happy for Josh (Cassidy)though. He’s been racing really well over the last few years and this is a big race to breakthrough for your first win”.
Cassidy finished the race in 1 hour 35 minutes 21 seconds, some six minutes outside Fearnley’s course record set in 2009. Marcel Hug of Switzerland finished second and David Weir of the United Kingdom third.
Fearnley’s attention now turns to the track after being selected to make his Commonwealth Games debut in New Delhi.
“It’s the first time there’s been a men’s wheelchair race at the Comm Games so I’m really looking forward to challenging for the first ever gold medal.”
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Story distributed by Michael Turner of www.kurtfernley.com
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