AS OVER 45,000 line up for tomorrow’s Flora London Marathon, North-East athletes have flocked to sign up for the region’s first race over the classic distance in 20 years.

The North-East Veterans AC is staging the Newcastle Town Moor Marathon on Sunday, November 22, and with the entry limited to 100 runners on a five-lap traffic-free course, it is already a sell-out.

Race organiser, George Routledge, the NEVAC secretary, said: “This is the region’s first marathon since the Wear Valley event in 1989 and the interest has been phenomenal.

“We have received entries from as far away as London and about half of the runners come from the North-East.

“It just shows the demand for a marathon in the region and I would have loved to have increased the entry. But the five circuits means we need a lot of lap counters and the paths are pretty narrow.”

Routledge, who competes for Heaton Harriers, will be taking part in his 18th London Marathon and he does it for the unique atmosphere of the big race.

He said: “I’ll be too busy organising things to run on the Town Moor, but to be honest I don’t like the idea of running five laps.”

The North-East won’t have any front runners in London, but Durham City Harrier Ian Crampton will be going for a hat-trick of over-45 veteran titles.

The 47-year-old, who ran a personal-best 2 hours 30 mins 40 secs in London last year, finishing 65th overall, warmed up for this year’s event by winning the South Shields Sand Dancer 10K and was first over-45 in the North Tyneside 10K and the Snake Lane ten-miler at Pocklington last month.

■ Shildon’s World Junior Cross Country Championships international Kate Avery won her second road race this month in the New Marske Harriers Spring 5K. The 17-yearold Newton Aycliffe student finished fourth overall in 16 mins 13 secs – only six seconds behind the men’s winner, Andy Chadfield (Billingham Marsh House).

Results – Men: 1 A Chadfield (Billingham MH) 16 mins 7 secs; 2 M Habteab (Middlesbrough and Cleveland) 16.10; 3 M Shaw (New Marske) 16.12; 4 M Gamble-Thompson (New Marske M40) 16.53; 5 M Jones (M&C) 17.06.

Women: 1 K Avery (Shildon) 16.13; 2 C Summersgill (M&C) 17.14; 3 A Hunter (Chester-le-Street) 18.