British distance runner Emile Cairess has expressed a view that British athletes now possess the confidence to compete effectively against international contenders, as he sets his sights on surpassing Sir Mo Farah's national marathon record. Cairess, 28, is identified as a key athlete among a contemporary group of British male distance runners achieving notable results.
His recent accomplishments include a third-place finish at the 2024 London Marathon and a fourth-place position at the Paris Olympics, marking the joint-best marathon performance by a British man in 40 years. Cairess also paced Alex Yee, who subsequently became the second-fastest British marathon runner, recording a time only eight seconds faster than Cairess's personal best.
This trend of improved performance is further evidenced by athletes such as Mahamed Mahamed and Philip Sesemann, both of whom have achieved marathon times within two minutes of Farah's 2:05:11 record within the last two years. Additionally, Patrick Dever made a significant debut, securing fourth place in New York. Cairess postulates that the success of a few individuals can alter collective perceptions of capability within the sport.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/articles/cd9evvx3e8eo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss