‘ I could have run faster ’
WHILE Lusapho April is delighted with a new career-best time, the 30-year-old athlete says he could have run even faster at the weekend if he had not been hampered by the weather.
April clocked a career-best time of two hours, eight minutes, 32 seconds (2:08:32) to win the Hannover Marathon in Germany for the second time in three years.
“I’m very happy with my time because it’s a personal best, even though at one stage I was hoping to run under 2:08,” he said yesterday. “But the weather was a bit warmer as the race progressed, especially after 30 kilometres.”
April, who also won in Hannover in 2011, broke away from the lead group in the second half, and completed a solo effort after the last of the pacemakers dropped out with 12km remaining. He gradually drew clear from the rest of the field, crossing the line well ahead of Ethiopian Mekuant Ayenew, who was second in 2:10:05.
April would now turn his focus to the shorter 21km distance. “I will run the South African Half-Marathon Championships in July, but right now the plan is to recover and decide after that.
“I have no plans at this stage for another marathon this year, but that’s something my coach and I will have to decide,” he said.
April, who improved the course record of 2:08:52, held by Kenyan Yussuf Sangoka, set the 13th fastest time by a South African on a standard marathon course.
He also elevated himself to eighth position among South Africa’s fastest ever runners over the classic 42km distance. –