ODDS MAKER LIKE MIKITENKO, WANJIRU FOR LONDON WINS
By David Monti
(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission

International sports odds maker Bodog.com favors Irina Mikitenko and Samuel Wanjiru to win Sunday's Virgin London Marathon.

Mikitenko, the defending champion from Germany, has been given 2.5-to-1 odds to win.  Last year's Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion Liliya Shobukhova of Russia is ranked next at 5.0-to-1, and British hope Mara Yamauchi is ranked third at 8.0-to-1.  Reigning IAAF World Marathon championn Bai Xue of China is ranked fourth at 9.0-to-1.

On the men's side Wanjiru, the men's defending champion from Kenya, was given 2.75-to-1 odds.  Surprisingly, Eritrea's Zersenay Tadese was ranked second at 4.0-to-1, despite the fact that he has never finished a marathon.  Olympic bronze medallist Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia was given 6.50-to-1 odds, and the second-fastest man in world history, Duncan Kibet of Kenya, was ranked fourth at 8.0-to-1.

The full rankings are at this link:

http://sports.bodog.co.uk/athletics/london-marathon.htm?marketId=16570

Click the drop down menu to switch from men to women's odds.

ENDS