Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru says flight ban may affect his performance at London Marathon

London Marathon champion affected by flight ban

NAIROBI, Kenya — Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru said Tuesday the ban on flights to Europe because of volcanic ash may affect his performance in the London Marathon.

The defending champion said since scheduled flights to London were canceled, race organizers arranged for a private jet to fly him and two other Kenyan runners to Europe.

The private jet was to take them to Spain, where another jet would fly to London. The flight was scheduled to leave Nairobi on Tuesday afternoon, but was postponed until Wednesday.

The delays mean Wanjiru will have less time to adjust to the weather in London and to rest for the race, but he still hopes to defend his title.

“I just hope the weather in London is good,” said Wanjiru, who set a course record of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 10 seconds last year. “I have done enough training. The rest I leave in the hands of God.”

Wanjiru is the favorite following the withdrawal of three-time London Marathon champion Martin Lel, who pulled out for the second straight year — this time with an injury to his right leg. In 2009, Lel withdrew after aggravating a hip injury.

Rotterdam Marathon champion Duncan Kibet and former Amsterdam Marathon champion Emmanuel Mutai also were scheduled to be on the flight.

Kibet and Mutai had taken flights from the high-altitude training camp in Eldoret, in western Kenya, to board the jet in Nairobi.

Kibet, who last year in Rotterdam recorded the second-fastest marathon time of 2:04:27, will be making his London debut. He also said he is concerned his journey to Europe will tire him out.