Unfortunately it turned out to be a bad day at the office for David Weir at 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon last Sunday, writes Ziad Chaudry.
The eight-time champion from Wallington, who was competing in his 20th London Marathon, could only finish fifth in the men's T54 race in 1:37.32.
USA's young 20-year-old sensation Daniel Romanchuk clinched his maiden London title after defeating two-time winner from Switzerland Marcel Hug and Japan Tomoki Suzuki in a sprint finish to the finish line on The Mall in 1:33.37.
Six-time Paralympic champion Weir fell away from the leading pack following a decisive move at the halfway point during the newly introduced lucrative prize money bonus 400m sprint.
"I just didn’t have it today," said the 39-year-old Sutton United FC fan. "I knew he (Daniel Romanchuk) had it when he put the burners on after Tower Bridge. I was slower than previous years, I just had no energy to be honest. I don’t know whether it was the infections I had for a few weeks in the build-up, but I’m not going to make excuses, I just wasn’t good enough today.
“It’s just a one-off thing. I kept up with Marcel and Daniel in New York. I was with them all the way to the end, but it’s just one of those things.”
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