Davenport out, Radcliffe in for New York marathon

MARIE DAVENPORT was yesterday forced to put her marathon debut on hold after failing to recover from a calf injury in time to run the ING New York City Marathon tomorrow.

The Irish Olympic 10,000 metres finalist had been in flying form since her 14th-place finish in Athens, before a training run close to her home in Chester, Connecticut, a fortnight ago ended in injury.

She rolled over her right ankle and in the following days in her efforts to recover, Davenport, 29, strained her left calf muscle, over-compensating for the initial problem.

“I was pretty upset last night when I felt I wasn’t going to make it,” Davenport said yesterday. “I tried it again this morning with a run but I only lasted five minutes and it flared right back up.

“I knew then there was no way then I could run in New York on Sunday; not a chance; but worse things could happen.”

The Clare woman said she would not run again competitively this year but the marathon would remain high in her ambitions for 2005 in addition to the world championships in Helsinki next summer.

“I’ll just try and get fixed up now and regroup before looking to next year. The marathon is definitely one of my goals still.

“I really enjoyed the training and I’ll try again next year. I’m not sure when, but I hope the training will stand to me for the track season as well.”

Davenport’s absence and Mark Carroll’s previous withdrawal from New York removes Ireland’s involvement in the elite field.

One of the men’s favourites will be marathon debutant Bob Kennedy, the American 3,000 and 5,000 metre record holder who is coached and advised by close friend Marcus O’Sullivan.

Kennedy, though, is more concerned for the plight of O’Sullivan, who will run the race tomorrow as one of 350 Irish entries in the main field of 30,000-plus runners.

“He’s too much of a miler for this,” the American joked, “I just know he’s going to go off too fast.”

Meanwhile Paula Radcliffe believes she is ready to challenge for the title.

Radcliffe insists she is in top shape after arriving in the Big Apple, and although her entry into the race came very late, it was not a rushed decision.

The 30-year-old world record-holder was not expected to undertake the gruelling distance until next spring after dropping out of the Olympic marathon 10 weeks ago.

Radcliffe said: “I am just doing my job. I have not got anything to prove. It is something I always wanted to do, but in the past it did not fit into my plans.”