Former Headington Roadrunner Mara Yamauchi will be Britain’s best hope of glory at next month’s Flora London Marathon, following the withdrawal of Paula Radcliffe through injury.

Radcliffe, the world record holder, was aiming to win her fourth title, but has withdrawn from the showpiece event on April 26 after picking up a toe injury while altitude training in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Oxford-born runner Yamauchi warmed up for the London Marathon by retaining her Matsue Ladies half marathon title in Japan on Sunday.

Yamauchi won the race in a time of 1hr 10mins 19secs, and although not a personal best, looks in good shape for a crack at London.

“I could break away from the start and run the rest of the race alone or stay in the pack,” said Yamauchi. “Since I was feeling so good, I decided to go from the start. It was a bit windy and I enjoyed the race.”

FORMER Radley ace Hatti Dean has been confirmed in the Great Britain & Northern Ireland cross country team for the forthcoming world championships in Am-man, Jordan on March 28.

Dean won the English Cross Country Championship at Parliament Hill last month, but missed the Inter-Counties Championships – the official qualifying race for the world championships – last week due to sickness.

Ian Stewart, national endurance coach for UK Athletics, said: “The World Cross Country Championships is one of the toughest tests any distance runner can possibly face.

“But this is not something that we should shy away from.

“Medals will be very hard to come by and may even be beyond our athletes at this stage of their development.”