Running: Run with a legend in Bupa...

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 03:19 AM

Olympic legend Lasse Viren to start BUPA London 10,000

The Olympic distance running legend Lasse Viren will start the inaugural BUPA London 10,000 on 26 May and then take part in the capital’s newest road race alongside his son Matti.

Viren became one of the greatest ever Olympic athletes when he pulled off an extraordinary double-double, winning the 5000m and 10,000m at both the 1972 and 1976 Games.

“It is a great honour to be asked to start this new 10km road race in London,” said the 58-year-old Flying Finn. “It’s been a long time since I was winning Olympic races but I’m excited to have the chance to get this great new event underway and then run along part of the proposed route of the 2012 Olympic marathon races with my son Matti.”

Some 12,500 people are expected to start the BUPA London 10,000 which will begin in Birdcage Walk and take in Parliament Square, Victoria Embankment, the City, St Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square before finishing in The Mall.

“We are delighted that Lasse has agreed to be our official starter for this exciting new event,” said David Bedford, race director of the Flora London Marathon which is organising the race with Nova International, the team behind the BUPA Great Run series.

“He was a legend on the track in the 1970s and I’m sure his presence will be an inspiration to the 12,500 fun runners and charity fund raisers who will join him on this fantastic course.”

This year’s London Marathon champions Martin Lel and Irina Mikitenko head the two strong elite fields that also feature British runners Mo Farah, Dan Robinson, Mara Yamauchi and Liz Yelling, as well as the double World 20km Road Race champion Zersenay Tadese.


The elite entrants and their best 10km road times are:

Men

Micah Kogo KEN 27:07

Zersenay Tadese ERI 27:24

Martin Lel KEN 27:25

Chema Martinéz ESP 27:48

Sergiy Lebid UKR 27:58

Mo Farah GBR 28:07

Tom Van Hooste BEL 28:37

Viktor Röthlin SUI 28:38

Dan Robinson GBR 29:12


Women

Irina Mikitenko GER 31:28

Aniko Kalovics HUN 31:42

Mara Yamauchi GBR 31:43

Liz Yelling GBR 32:55

Hayley Haining GBR 33:18