Men

Michael Shelley delivered a surprise to Australia’s track and field team at the Commonwealth games in Deli last year when he streaked to silver in the marathon. Buzzing after his medal, Shelley continued with his success by posting two sub 2.12 performances, running 2.11.38 in the London marathon and 2.11.23 (PB) in Amsterdam in October. Other contenders for the available spots for the marathon include 2011 World champion representative Jeff Hunt. Driven to prove critics wrong after finishing his 2011 season on a low note, Hunt is a true contender. Making his debut at the marathon distance in 2010, Hunt posted a 2.11.00 performance at Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon (JPN), which saw him come 3rd, running the fastest marathon on debut and breaking the NSW record. This season, we should once again see this aspiring Olympian run another sub 2.12 Olympic A qualifier.

Lee Troop made the switch to marathons, after representing Australia in the 5000m at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and at the 1999 World Championships. He has also represented Australia in the marathon at three Olympic Games. Troop is one of only five Australian marathoners to have broken the 2:10 mark (2:09.49 at Lake Biwa marathon in 2003). 

Other contenders looking to book themselves a ticket to London in this event is Shaun Forrest, Marty Dent (2.13.27), Scott Wescott (2.12.56) Clint Perret and New Zealander Paul Martelleti who already have B Olympic standards.

Women

For the first 5 months of 2011, Commonwealth bronze medalist Lisa Weightman had a significant amount of time away from training due to injury. Moving forward again Weightman achieved in October 2011, an Olympic A qualifying standard of 2:29:23 well under the 2.32 mark set by Athletics Australia. Shy of her personal best of 2:28:48 which she set in winning the 2010 Nagano International Marathon, Weightman will have to wait for confirmation from selectors to see if she will make her second Olympic team. Others in a hunt for a place in the Olympic team include 2008 Olympian Kate Smythe (2.28.51), Lisa Flint who burst onto the Australian running scene in 2009, running 2:34.08 to win the Melbourne Marathon and secure a Commonwealth Games A qualifier and three time Olympian Benita Willis (2.22.36) who finished 21st in the marathon at the 2008 Olympics.  Kim Smith New Zealand’s national record holder over the 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, halve marathon and marathon (2.25.21) smashed the Olympic qualifying time in finishing 5th at the recent New York marathon and looks to make her second Olympic games team for New Zealand this coming year.

It would also be great to see Anna Thompson in marathon shape once again trying to lower her 2.33.20 PB and also 2006 Commonwealth games representative Lauren Shelley running again close to her 2.33.42 best.

Do not discount possible marathon debutants and World half marathon representatives Nikki Chapple, Jess Trengrove, Cassie Fien and World university half marathon representative Clare Geraghty who made her marathon debut in Melbourne in 2011. 10,000m runner Lara Tamsett also has aspirations to become a marathon runner and has been quoted saying  “I’ve had a few thoughts about if I’m not fast enough for the 10,000m in London and should I just bite the bullet now and try a marathon early next year and see what happens?”

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MEN

At the 2011 Melbourne Track Classic, Ben St Lawrence gave two- time world champion Bernard Lagat a shock, drawing level with 80m to go in the 5000m. Lagat won by only four strides in the end but St Lawrence clocking a personal best of 13:10.08 to beat several sub-13min men including Americans Chris Solinsky, Matt Tegencamp and Craig Mottram. A few months later, St Lawrence continued his good form by smashing the 10,000m national record at the Stanford Payton Jordan invitational meet. St Lawrence slashed almost five seconds from the previous mark, clocking 27min 24.95sec. The rate of improvement from this Sydney base runner has been phenomenal.

Since the qualifying period opened, St. Lawrence already holds a B Olympic qualifier over the 5000m and an A Olympic qualifier for the 10,000m.

Looking ahead towards London, Collis Birmingham is another contender that has chosen to focus on the 5000m rather than the 10,000m or the marathon. Birmingham says, "This year I'm focused on just getting fit because next year will be the biggest year you'll get in athletics." Looking to put his interrupted 2011 season behind him due to injury, Birmingham managed to finish off his 2011 season being the best placed Australian over the 5000m at the Daegu World championships. Birmingham already has one A Olympic qualifier under his belt having posted a 13.15.70. Hopefully we can see this 2008 Olympian continue again with his climb of improvements heading towards London.

Other athletes you need to keep your eyes open for over the 5000m and 10,000m this coming season is David McNeill and New Zealanders 2008 Olympic representative over the 5000m Adrian Blincoe and 2011 World championship finalist in the 5000m, Jake Robertson.

WOMEN

Two time 10,000m national title holder Eloise Welling’s sets her sights on making the London Olympics after her disappointing season ending in Daegu, which saw her withdraw from the women’s 10,000m due to injury. Welling’s, who has already run 31.41.31, achieving the Olympic A standard by 4 seconds. 

Other contenders looking to lower their personal bests to get closer to the Olympic 5000m (15:15.00) or 10,000m (31:45.00) A standard this season will be 2008 Zaptopek winner Lara Tamsett, 2011 open national cross country champion Emily Brichacek, Commonwealth games representative in the 5000m (2002) and 10,000m (2006) Anna Thompson, City to surf winners (2009) Melinda Vernon and Jess Trengrove (2011).