MITHQAL BACK IN MARATHON ACTION

Jordan’s two-time Olympic marathon runner Mithqal Al Abbadi has returned to action six weeks after competing at the Rio Olympic Games.

The Jordanian record holder admitted he wasn’t at his best in Rio this summer and was just determined to finish the event in tough conditions, but he bounced back with an improved showing at the World Military Marathon Championships in Turin, Italy.

The 32-year-old ran a time of two hours and 28 minutes, still off his best time but 20 minutes faster than his Olympic run to finish 22nd out of 1,559 runners.

“It was good to get back on the road quickly after Rio,” said Mithqal. “It was a top quality field so to finish in a strong position and in a decent time was pleasing.

“I said after Rio that I want to be top 10 in Tokyo in 2020 so I will need to run more marathons and keep squeezing my time downwards.”