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Defending champion Lusapo April will not be competing at the SA Marathon Championships in George on Saturday, leaving the road open for anybody to claim the title.
April will not run amother marathon before the Olympic Games taking place in August.
April, from Border Athletics, ran three marathons in 2011, finishing well within the 2 hour 15 minutes, A-Standard marathon Olympic Qualifying time.
April triumphed in George last year in just over 2 hours and 13 minutes.
The SA Marathon Championships will start at the PW Botha College in York Street with the marathon starting at 05.30 on Saturday morning.
