Bright future awaits junior doctor Phil Sesemann as first Briton home at London Marathon

Bob Martin/Virgin Money London Marathon

Phil Sesemann describes himself on social media as a doctor first and occasional GB athlete. On the evidence of yesterday’s London Marathon, the two could flip.

Sesemann was the first British male home in seventh place on Sunday, his time of 2:12.58 quick enough to qualify him for the British team at next year’s European Championships and Team England at the Commonwealth Games being held in Birmingham next summer.

The 29-year-old has pulled on a British jersey at international level before – he was a late call-up to run the 3,000metres at this year’s European Indoors when Marc Scott withdrew.

He failed to make it out of his heat but, on the evidence of his marathon debut on what was his birthday, his athletics future looks likelier to rest over 26.2miles.

Of juggling work as a junior doctor in A&E unit in Leeds – a city he relocated to from his home city London 10 years ago to study, he said: “I’ve been fortunate to have brilliant colleagues. I’ve always worked part time and they have been very supportive of me combining the career and training at the same time.

“At some point, I’ll go into a training programme and decide what to specialise in but, if there’s a marathon career for a few years, maybe I’ll give that a crack.”

Sesemann’s colleagues have helped reduce his hours in the build-up to London Marathon in order to diminish any potential Covid risk.

While ambitious plans in 2022 potentially lie in wait be it at European or Commonwealth level, his sights are next focused on defending a national title.

Bob Martin for Virgin Money London Marathon

“I just have to recover now ready for the six-stage road relay next weekend in Sutton Park,” he said. “Aldershot have a strong team and my club Leeds City have a title to defend.”

So, he will be back training with at least one of his dogs, aptly named after distance running legends Eliud Kipchoge and Haile Gebreselassie, a three-year-old Spaniel-Vizsla cross, Kipchoge, and a 16-week-old German shorthaired Pointer, Haile.

The former swimmer said: “Kipchoge is a three-year-old spaniel so she is a little bit mental. She has her own Strava and will do the 20 milers and stuff. She did 103 miles the other week and seems to love it but she doesn’t really have a choice. She usually lags behind but she is a stalwart of the Leeds training scene.”

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