3-time champion Lel hampered by aching hip ahead of Sunday’s London Marathon

Lel hampered by hip ahead of London Marathon

LONDON — Martin Lel is confident he will be able to defend his title in the London Marathon despite an aching hip.

The 30-year-old Kenyan said on Wednesday that he will have an MRI scan of the injury ahead of Sunday’s race. The two-time defending champion also won in 2005.

Lel finished fifth in last year’s Olympic marathon after a bout of malaria. The gold went to 21-year-old Kenyan rival Samuel Wanjiru.

World champion Luke Kibet and the two other Olympic medalists are also in field, making it one of the strongest in the 28-year history of the event.

Organizers have included pacemakers in the hope that the field will challenge Haile Gebrselassie’s world record of 2 hours, 3 minutes, 59 seconds.