ADDIS ABABA, April 6: Ethiopia is confident their team, led by favourite Haile Gebrselassie, will clinch the top places in next weekend’s London marathon, the country’s national coach said Saturday.

Race-favourite Gebrselassie is expected to arrive in London on Tuesday for his marathon debut. The former world 10,000 metres record holder boosted his confidence with a victory in last month’s Lisbon half marathon where he beat his Kenyan rival Paul Tergat, who was third.

Jifar won last year’s New York marathon setting a new best time for the race of two hours seven minutes and 43 seconds, while Tola is the Olympic bronze medallist.

Tolosa said the main challenge to the Ethiopians is expected to come from Tergat, Abdelkader El Mouaziz of Morocco and Antonio Pinto of Portugal.

Ethiopia are without Olympic and world champion Gezahegne Abera.—Reuters