Fagan targets qualifier time for Worlds

MARTIN FAGAN could be the first Irish athlete to secure a qualifying time for the World Championships in Daegu, Korea, next August when he runs Sunday’s Houston Marathon – although he admits he only recently returned to full fitness following a lengthy period of injury and illness.

Still based in Flagstaff, Arizona, Fagan has struggled to maintain the sort of form that saw him clock 2:14.06 for the marathon in early 2008, which earned him qualification for the Beijing Olympics.

Since then he’s had to contend with a number of injuries, and more recently stomach complaints which seriously affected both his racing and recovery.

Then, late last year, he was diagnosed as suffering from celiac disease. Since he has adopted the necessary gluten-free diet, he has noticed a considerable difference.

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