Bedford backing Brown to race round new course

London Marathon race director David Bedford is delighted Jon Brown will compete in next year's event and believes the British No1 can run a lifetime best on the new, faster course.

Canada-based Brown is no stranger to the London event, setting his personal best when coming fourth five years ago in two hours, nine minutes and 44 seconds.

"I'm delighted Jon will again be running in London and I'm sure, on what is a significantly faster course, he can achieve his personal best," said Bedford of the man who came fourth in the past two Olympic marathons.

Bedford yesterday named perhaps the best field ever assembled for any of the world's big-city marathons. He also announced a diversion around the Tower Hotel and the cobbles of the Tower of London, a change expected to make the course 45 seconds faster.