Derek and Steph to miss GB Olympic marathon trial

Saturday 20th March 2021

Derek Hawkins will miss next week’s GB and NI Olympic trial in London after suffering an injury.

And Scottish Record holder Steph Twell will miss the women’s race as athletes compete for places in Japan this summer.

The absences of Hawkins and Twell mean the likes of Steph Davis, Sarah Inglis and Robbie Simpson will carry Scottish hopes over the closed-off course at Kew Gardens in London early on the morning of Friday 26 March.

Derek, who competed at the Olympics in Rio, misses out through injury while Steph is looking towards the 10,000m track trial at Birmingham Uni in early June (although she already has the marathon standard).

Callum Hawkins is already pre-selected for Japan and is expected to undertake some pacing duties at Kew Gardens – with the event to be streamed live on www.britishathleitcs.org.uk

The competitor lists for the Müller British Athletics Marathon and 20km Walk Trials are now available.

Ben Connor is the fastest in the men’s marathon field having gone inside the Olympic qualifying standard with a time of 2:11.20 at the Virgin Money London Marathon last October. He will be seeking one of the top two positions to earn automatic selection for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

In the women’s contest, Steph Davis is the fastest in the field having run inside the Olympic qualifying standard, posting a time of 2:27.40 in Valencia in 2019.

The first two placed eligible athletes in each individual trial event, who hold an Olympic qualifying standard, will earn automatic selection for Japan.

Marathon and 20km Walk Competitor List

Action will get underway from 6:00am with the men’s and women’s 20km race walks, while the men’s and women’s marathon races will start at 8am.

‘With a week to go until the Müller British Athletics Marathon and 20km Walk Trials, the excitement is really building,’ said Katie Brazier, Competitions and Events Director at British Athletics.

‘Although the event will be held behind-closed-doors, we are delighted the race walks and the marathon will be streamed on our website so it can be enjoyed by viewers at home.

‘Our thanks go to all the stakeholders involved in delivering this event under challenging circumstances.’

British Athletics continues to adhere closely to the Government’s advice and Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all those involved in delivering and competing at events currently being staged.