Jo Pavey to run London Marathon as she targets 2017 World Championships in capital

Jo Pavey will line up for this year’s London Marathon as she bids to qualify for the World Championships in the capital.

Pavey ran the 2011 London Marathon — her debut over that distance — to achieve the Olympic qualifying time only to return to the track, which culminated in her being crowed European champion over 10,000m in 2014.

But now the 43-year-old, a five‑time Olympian, has set her sights on qualifying for the British team over 26.2miles at the worlds here in August. Her personal best of 2:28.24 is seven-and-a-half minutes quicker than the time required to qualify for the British team but she will be vying for a spot on the team at April’s trial alongside Aly Dixon, Charlotte Purdue, Susan Partridge and Louise Damen.

“I know it’s not going to be easy,” said mum-of-two Pavey of her World Championship ambition. “There are lots of good girls in the field who all want the same thing.

“For a British athlete, the London Marathon is the pinnacle.

“I would love then to qualify for the World Championships in London.”