Phil Sesemann and Alex Bell take Leeds Beckett University training culture onto London Marathon stage
Two Leeds Olympians will contest the London Marathon with differing goals on Sunday - but there has been heartbreak for one of Yorkshire’s medal contenders.
Bradford’s Emile Cairess - who was third in London and fourth in the Paris Olympic Marathon in a breakout summer of 2024 - has been ruled out with a calf injury, denying him the chance to break Sir Mo Farah’s British record.
But two of his training partners at Leeds Beckett University are bidding for glory.
Phil Sesemann, a former doctor in Leeds, finished seventh on his London Marathon debut in 2021.
“I’m hoping to get back into that top ten, be as competitive as possible within the British field and, if conditions are good on the day, I’d definitely like to shoot for a personal best,” said Sesemann, 33.
And he will be joined in the capital by Alex Bell, who reached an Olympic final in the 800m in Tokyo five years ago but has since pivoted to the longer distances.
“My main goal is to help set the race up well for the elite women and give them the best possible chance of running fast times,” said Bell, 33.
“I’ll be pacing, which is a new role for me that comes with a different kind of responsibility compared to racing, but just as important in shaping how the race unfolds. I’m really looking forward to the experience.”
Both have been training alongside Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee at Leeds Beckett’s Headingley Campus.
Sesemann added: “Training with Alex Yee and Emile has really helped me step up my level and training around athletes like that, they’re pushing you, you’re pushing them.”
Bell added: “Leeds Beckett has a competitive and driven athletic environment which pushes you to raise your standards. Being around athletes working towards goals of all levels creates a strong training culture.”