Jo Pavey to run London Marathon as she targets 2017 World Championships in capital
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Jo Pavey will line up for this year’s London Marathon as she bids to qualify for the World Championships in the capital.
Pavey ran the 2011 London Marathon — her debut over that distance — to achieve the Olympic qualifying time only to return to the track, which culminated in her being crowed European champion over 10,000m in 2014.
But now the 43-year-old, a five‑time Olympian, has set her sights on qualifying for the British team over 26.2miles at the worlds here in August. Her personal best of 2:28.24 is seven-and-a-half minutes quicker than the time required to qualify for the British team but she will be vying for a spot on the team at April’s trial alongside Aly Dixon, Charlotte Purdue, Susan Partridge and Louise Damen.
“I know it’s not going to be easy,” said mum-of-two Pavey of her World Championship ambition. “There are lots of good girls in the field who all want the same thing.
“For a British athlete, the London Marathon is the pinnacle.
“I would love then to qualify for the World Championships in London.”