Wednesday, May 03, 2000
Marathon trials may get tougher
Locals Sence, Lentz could face record-holder
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Sence
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Lentz
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As local marathoners John Sence and T.J. Lentz made their final preparations for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials coming this Sunday in Pittsburgh, they learned that a ringer might be added to the field.
Khalid Khannouchi, the marathon world record-holder, was sworn in as a U.S. citizen Tuesday.
Khannouchi, formerly of Morocco, is nursing ankle and hamstring injuries. He'll announce today at a news conference in New York if he intends to run at the trials or enter the 10,000 meter trials in July instead. The Associated Press reported Tuesday he's leaning toward the marathon.
“If he's in, you go from three spots to two,” Sence has said.
“If (Khannouchi's in), it will be interesting,” Lentz said. “He would change the flavor of the race.”
Khannouchi has run a 2:05:42 marathon. That's nearly four minutes faster than the top U.S. qualifier, David Morris.
Sence has the 12th best qualifying time (2:15:40). But he has been troubled by a sore hamstring that has limited his training.
“The most he's run is 13 miles,” said Sence's wife, Lori. “He's still planning to run. He's hoping the hamstring will loosen up once he starts.”
Lentz, Sence's training partner, was the 26th fastest qualifier at 2:17:51.
Khannouchi's status is the big question. He has been advised not to race for the next six weeks.
Khannouchi ran the London Marathon on April 16 and finished third at 2:08:36. That's where he hurt the ankle. Overcompensation for injury led to hamstring problems.
“Khalid has had injuries that could curtail his career,” Gerard Hartmann, who has been treating Khannouchi in Ireland, told The Associated Press. “There's no way he should run the marathon trials.”
Another obstacle: Before the Olympics, Khannouchi would need approval from the Moroccan Olympic Committee. Some Moroccan officials are upset at Khannouchi.
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