paula radcliffe

Yes but she wouldn't have finished in the top 20 either

Finishing position irrelevant Wessex ( unless you back them ) . The Olympics is about competing , some female runner has missed out on possibly the most important occasion in their athletic career .

Why are subs not allowed ?  Is it security ?

Anyone could gatecrash the marathon anyway .  Anyone who was dressed up properly in running gear and with a number could participate with a bit of ingenuity .  Particularly if they were a student from Bangalore studying in England .

If you're right Wessex (and i've no reason to think otherwise)then it's a disgrace that she was selected in the first place..........i suspect she's known for quite some time that she wouldn't run.

she's only been a major doubt for about 2 weeks.

She could easily have trained like her potential replacements and knock out a crappy 2.30 time

At her peak was head and shoulders above any female marathon runner is history. Deserved a home olympic run for what she has done for running and British track and field imvho

stop her lottery funding

another woman has taken her place. she's done the right thing and let her have a go

Radcliffe was selected back in October, following her qualifying time of 2.23 in the Berlin marathon where she finished 3rd.  The second GB slot was also confirmed in the autumn (Mara Yamauchi who ran a 2.26).  The final slot was to be decided following the London marathon in April where a few hopefuls were running.  The standard they had to achieve was 2.31.  Jo Pavey already had a 2.28 but didn't run in London; however Claire Hallissey ran 2.27 and was given the 3rd and final slot.  Pavey incidentally later qualified for the 10000m.

Freya Murray was the next best in London and has been on standby ever since.  Radcliffe was rightly selected as the best chance we had, and a sub was always in place for exactly this type of eventuality.

Hope that clears it up a bit.

Many thanks ,i'm pleased that there is a reserve..hope she's been training on the assumption that she'll run.

Glad there is that process in place Danno .  Hate to think of anyone missing a lifes ambition through red tape etc .