Marathon trio are on the road to Rio
Hawkins brothers shine with Tewelde
SCOTLAND’S Hawkins brothers produced the runs of their lives in the London Marathon yesterday to open the door to a double act in Rio.
Callum qualified for the British Olympic team after finishing in eighth place in 2:10:52 to snap up the first automatic spot for Brazil this summer.
And he could be joined by sibling Derek, who also hit the Olympic standard and may yet be offered a discretionary place in the team.
But the man who finished in the middle of their British one-two-three has also made the team — and what an intriguing journey it has been for him to get here.
It took a midnight train to Glasgow to give Tsegai Tewelde the chance of a new life, free of fear and insulated from intimidation.
If not for an escape act eight years ago that led first to political asylum then a warm welcome into his second family at Shettleston Harriers, the 26-year-old would have returned to his native Eritrea in East Africa wondering what terrors would await him next.
From nightmares to the stuff of dreams, however. Tewelde will be heading to Rio to represent the nation that gave him sanctuary after securing his berth with 12th place in London yesterday.
For long spells, Tewelde went toe to toe with the heavyweights of road running. Slowing towards the finish, he came home in 2:12:23. ‘I’m feeling very very tired but I got through it,’ he said. ‘It was tough for me.’
A lot easier, he revealed, than his childhood in war-torn Eritrea where danger lurked around every corner.
‘I had a bomb accident when I was eight years old,’ he said. ‘I had a serious injury in five places on my body. And this scar on my head.’
Tewelde had originally come to Edinburgh for the world cross-country championships where a poor performance led to subtle threats from his coach that conscription into the army might be the punishment. Torture was among their tools of the trade. He and several members of the Eritrean squad felt they had no option but to flee for their lives.
‘First we went to the police,’ he recounted. ‘After filling in the form in the station there was an interpreter who took us to his home. And the next day he took us to the Refugee Council and then they sent us to Liverpool. But after doing paperwork in Liverpool, we went back to Scotland and I stayed there.’
At the Shettleston club in Glasgow’s East End, they can now look forward to cheering him in Rio. He has come a long way and he owes them a lot.
‘They make me feel at home,’ he said, holding back the tears, ‘like I am part of the family.’
And, of course, they were not the only family celebrating in London.
Callum Hawkins guaranteed his place at the Olympics — and is now hoping his sibling makes it too — after gradually picking off his rivals, including Tewelde.
By the finish, he had also seen off world record holder Dennis Kimetto. ‘I saw his vest and recognised his colours and thought: “Surely not?”. Then I passed him and he tried to hold on for a bit. I knew it was just because he was struggling but it’s still amazing to get that scalp.’
Older brother Derek swept by a few notable names of his own to reach The Mall in 14th in a lifetime best of 2:12:57, inside UK Athletics’ qualifying standard.
He will learn his Olympic fate tomorrow but will trust he has done enough. ‘It would be pretty good if we both went,’ he said. ‘Because I’d have a training partner for a start.’
Eliud Kipchoge missed the world record by eight seconds in retaining the men’s title in 2:03:05, with fellow Kenyan Jemima Sumgong bouncing back from a hard fall to win the women’s race.
British pair Alyson Dixon and Sonia Samuels did enough to ensure they will be Rio-bound in the women’s race, but top Scots Freya Ross, who came 18th, and Susan Partridge, who dropped out, saw their Olympic ambitions blow up.
‘I just didn’t have it on the day,’ Ross admitted. ‘But I went for it, put myself on the line and gave it my best shot.’
Marcel Hug and Tatyana McFadden took the adjoining IPC Para titles with Derek Rae’s personal best of 2:37:28 likely to earn a Paralympic berth.
‘I won’t feel the pressure,’ the 31-year-old Fifer stated. ‘It’s out of my hands now but I would love to be there in Rio.’