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April to fly SA flag in Boston

Johannesburg - Distance runner Lusapho April will be the only South African in the elite men's or women's fields at this season's two major international Spring marathons, it was confirmed on Tuesday.

While no SA athletes were included in the elite line-up for the London Marathon, announced earlier this month, the 32-year-old athlete was named in a 20-man field for the Boston Marathon, to be held in the United States on April 20.

While 13 men in the field have run faster than April's 2:08:32 personal best, he was confident he could put up a fight in an attempt to become the first South African to win the historic race, which forms part of the World Marathon Majors series.

The men's line-up includes Kenyan former world record holder Patrick Makau, as well as six other men who have gone under 2:06:00 in their careers.

"Boston always depends on the weather," April said after the field was announced.

"If there's a tail wind it will be fast, but if it's hot and we're running against the wind it will be tactical."

A former two-time winner of the Hannover Marathon and third-place finisher at the prestigious New York Marathon, April was 15th in his Boston debut last year, and he hoped to make up for a relatively disappointing performance with a solid effort this time around.

"I want to win, and I will go there prepared for anything."

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