London Marathon blow as British hopeful Emile Cairess withdraws due to injury, missing a chance to compete in an elite-packed field.
Of all the contenders set to battle it out on the streets of London this April, British marathon hopeful Emile Cairess has suffered a cruel blow.
The 27-year-old has been ruled out of the 2025 London Marathon after an ankle tendon injury disrupted his preparations, crushing his hopes of challenging Mo Farah’s national record.
Cairess, who produced a breakthrough performance last year with a third-place finish, was considered Britain’s best chance in the elite men’s field.
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However, the ongoing issue has prevented him from maintaining the consistency required for world-class marathon training, forcing him to withdraw from the highly anticipated event.
“I was really looking forward to racing the world’s best marathon runners and to build on the progress I have made over the marathon distance,” Cairess said as per Independent.
“It is an absolutely stacked elite men’s field at this year’s event which makes it a really hard one to miss. But, unfortunately, a setback in my buildup has persisted which has significantly impacted the consistency of training that is required to be at my best. My focus now is recovering properly, getting back to full training and returning to racing as soon as possible.”
Cairess had been eyeing an ambitious tilt at Farah’s British marathon record of 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 11 seconds.
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South African legend Benni McCarthy has reportedly decided on the men who will join his technical bench when he takes over as Harambee Stars coach.
Despite Cairess’ withdrawal, the elite men’s race remains a blockbuster showdown as the field features Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, the newly crowned half-marathon world record holder, who many believe could make a serious challenge for the 26.2-mile record.
Meanwhile, defending champion Alex Mutiso is back to protect his title, with Ethiopian Olympic gold medalist Tamirat Tola and former world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge adding to the formidable lineup.
The London Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, April 27, is set to be one of the most competitive in recent history.
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Victor Wanyama has hinted at where he is likely to play next as he weighs his options from a number of several offers on his table.
On the women’s side, the competition is equally fierce, with double Olympic gold medalist Sifan Hassan leading the charge alongside world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich.
Hassan, who stunned the world by winning the 2023 race on her marathon debut, will be looking to cement her dominance against a field packed with elite talent.