TIVERTON runner Jo Pavey will have to wait a few months to learn if she will compete at the London 2012 Olympics after not being named in the first batch of athletes.

Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauchi were selected to compete for Team GB in the women’s marathon next year, leaving one place up for grabs.

It leaves Pavey vying with Claire Hallissey and Louise Damen for the third and final spot.

Exeter Harrier Pavey made her debut over the 26.2-mile distance in London in April and her time of 2hrs 28mins 24secs is comfortably within the qualifying standard for the Olympics.

It is also the third best by a British woman this year, behind Radcliffe and Yamauchi.

The final marathon line-up for Team GB will be announced on April 23, and husband and coach Gavin Pavey insists Jo’s omission did not come as a surprise.

“It hasn’t come as a shock to us at all. We always thought we wouldn’t find out until closer to the time and that’s how it has worked out,” he said.

“We’re not surprised. When Jo did five and 10k races we wouldn’t find out until much closer to the time, so it isn’t anything we weren’t expecting.

“There’s still another marathon slot available and I’m not surprised they took Paula because she is the world record holder.

“It also doesn’t mean that Jo has to run another marathon because she is well within the qualifying time, so she only has to run another one if she feels like it.

“She ran a very good time in New York (2:28.42) and, looking at that, you can take off three or four minutes from that time to see where she is because of the conditions and hills in that particular marathon.”