Athletics: Ross-Cope delivers brave Marathon effort
by Michael Baggaley
GREAT Britain international Michelle Ross-Cope produced a brave London Marathon performance, three days after her father's funeral.
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RUNNING FOR DAD: City of Stoke athlete Michelle Ross-Cope on her way to a great finish at the London Marathon. Picture: Mick Hall
The City of Stoke runner, from Waterhayes, was the second-fastest Briton, completing the course in two hours 36 minutes and two seconds.
The mother of three understandably wasn't in the right frame of mind for the race, which was the first marathon of her career.
But she wanted to complete the course for her father, David Ross, who was suffering from a brain tumour before his death two weeks ago.
She was inspired by his memory to finish the race when she started to struggle in the final stages.
She said: "It was not the best preparation for my first marathon, but I had to do it for my father. I just wish he could have hung on for me.
"I felt that had I not done the race, he would have been gutted.
"I ran with his wedding ring pinned to my number. Towards the end, I said 'come on, help me'. He was there with me."
Ross-Cope, aged 37, just missed the two hours 34 minutes qualifying time for the World Championships in Berlin in August.
But she could yet make the event after her gutsy performance to finish 15th overall, despite starting in the open event rather than with the elite runners.
That will depend on the Great Britain selectors, who should deliver their verdict within the next week.
She added: "I was aiming for two hours 33 minutes and was on target up to 23 miles. But then my legs went and I just had to hold on to the finish. I can now understand why people drop out at 24 miles.
"I think I was mentally drained at the start from focusing on everything during the last two weeks.
"Although I have missed the World Championship qualifying time, I hope there is still a chance the selectors will pick me."
Ross-Cope has returned to form and fitness this year after she was injured in the World Half-Marathon Championships in Brazil in October.
She crossed the line in Rio de Janeiro hobbling after suffering an injury to the piriformis muscle in her hip, which led to hamstring problems.
That subsequently cost her the opportunity to make her marathon debut in Florence in November.
But she led from start to finish to easily win the Helsby half-marathon in January.
Several Staffordshire Moorlands athletes took part in the London Marathon.
Top Moorlands runner again this year was Gareth Briggs, who finished in a time of 2:40.27. It was good enough to net him 188th place overall.
Also running were Mark Dean (3:13.12), Mark Stoddard (3:45.36), Adrian Northcott (3:24.55) and Harold Gleave (4:18.08).
2 Comments
by Alan Cope, Stoke
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 2:28PM
“I couldn't agree more, the strain of what happened is totally draining. I think that the result was amazing and should be applauded. I'd also like to add that as well as being ranked 2nd for the Marathon, Michelle is also ranked 2nd for the Half Marathon and 3rd for the 10k, after a series of wonderful performances. The only person currently holding her off the top spot is Mara who is currently the number 1 and benefits from being a full time athlete. Michelle deserves every congratulations she gets.”
by steve Johnson, stoke on trent
Wednesday, April 29 2009, 1:37PM
“In extreme circumstances because of the loss of her dad. Racing in one of the highest profile marathon races in the world, running at the front of the masses rather than a clear course as the elites get. Michelle ran a fantastic race. It must be hard to cope with such happiness and sadness simultaneously. If she can achieve a time\result like that in these conditions, surely things can only get better for her. She is now ranked 2nd fastest female in the country!”