Can Mary Keitany Beat Paula Radcliffe?

Only Radcliffe has run faster than Keitany in London. 

When Kenya’s Mary Keitany blazed through the London Marathon course in 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 19 seconds at the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday, there’s no doubt one person was especially taking note: Paula Radcliffe.

Radcliffe is the current world-record holder and the only woman to have run faster than Keitany in London.

Britain’s Mara Yamauchi, who was out of the race due to injury, was watching the race from the sidelines . She pointed out that the 29-year-old Keitany could “run away from everybody” at the 2012 Olympics. “She’s going to be a really big threat in 2012,” she said. “Of course I now feel more pressure.” Yamauchi even thinks Keitany can run improve on her time in London. “It was a fantastic run – but I think Mary can go quicker than that,” she noted.

In the 30-year history of the marathon, there have only been three times faster than Keitany’s on Sunday–all them were run by Paula Radcliffe, who has yet to qualify for the Olympics and hopes to do so at this year’s Berlin Marathon in the fall. 

For More: Daily Mirror