Preeja, Kavita yet to qualify for Olympics

Top Indian long distance runner Preeja Sreedharan`s bid for an Olympic berth continues to linger.

New Delhi: Top Indian long distance runner Preeja Sreedharan`s bid for an Olympic berth continued to linger on as she finished a disappointing 10th in the 5,000m race at the National Meeting at Saint Etienne in France on Sunday.

Preeja, who won a gold in 10,000m and silver in 5,000m in 2010 Asian Games, clocked a below par 16:18.24, way outside her national record-setting effort of 15:15.89s in the Guangzhou Asiad. Her compatriot Kavita Raut, who won a bronze in the 2010 Asian Games behind Preeja, was seventh in 16:02.75s. The London Olympics qualification `B` standard is 15:30.00, while the `A` standard is 15:20.00s. The qualification deadline is July 8. PTI