Olympic steeplechaser to race the Morrisons Great Edinburgh Run after time out through injury as he continues on the road to the Rio marathon

Andrew Lemoncello is to continue his comeback after injury at the Morrisons Great Edinburgh Run on April 19.

The Arizona-based Scot finished 12th in the Commonwealth 10,000m final in Glasgow on August 1 but was then forced to miss the Berlin Marathon in September after suffering with osteitis pubis.

He returns to Scotland to race over the 10-mile Great Run course and will look to continue his winning ways in Edinburgh, the 32-year-old having won the 2013 edition of this event when it was held over 10km.

The increase in distance is welcomed by Lemoncello who, after competing for Great Britain in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, is hoping to secure a spot for the marathon at the Rio 2016 Games.

“It s an exciting time,” said Lemoncello. “Things have been going well in training and I m looking forward to coming back over for the Morrisons Great Edinburgh Run.

“It s a great opportunity for me to race in Scotland again and it will give me a good feel for where I am fitness-wise. It ll really kick off the season for me.

“I had to take three months off after the Commonwealth Games and things have been coming along really well since I started back in the new year. The plan is to try to give myself two opportunities to qualify for the Olympic marathon hopefully one in September/October time this year and then maybe London next April.”

Lemoncello has not run a marathon since failing to finish in Fukuoka in December 2012, but the Fife athlete is confident that his three-year run of injuries is behind him. His marathon PB is 2:13:40, set when making his debut over the distance in London in 2010.

“I had to have complete rest after this last one (injury), osteitis pubis,” he explained. “That was tough, because my days are usually based around my training, but I had three months of doing normal things drinking beer when I wanted to and tons of time with my daughter.

“But taking that full rest was really essential because my body was fully recovered when I got back to training. I was feeling really fresh.

“I took the first month very easy but after that I was able to ramp up training and things are coming along really well. I didn t think I d be in this kind of shape already, having missed so much training, but I m feeling great and really enjoying it again.

“It kind of makes you appreciate your running when you have to take time out like that.”

For more on the Morrisons Great Edinburgh Run see www.greatrun.org/edinburgh

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