Sunderland athlete Aly Dixon qualifies for the Olympics with great London Marathon run

Sunderland runner Alyson Dixon has qualified for this summer's Olympic Games with a great performance in today's London Marathon.
Aly Dixon celebrates after being the first British woman over the line in today's London marathon, which qualifies her for the Rio Olympics.Aly Dixon celebrates after being the first British woman over the line in today's London marathon, which qualifies her for the Rio Olympics.
Aly Dixon celebrates after being the first British woman over the line in today's London marathon, which qualifies her for the Rio Olympics.

The 37-year-old Sunderland Stroller was battling it out for a place in the Team GB squad for Rio.

And she did it in style, being the first British woman to cross the finish line, ahead of fellow Brit and Sale Harrier Sonia Samuels.

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The pair needed to be the first two Brits over the line, and Dixon came out on top in a gritty final sprint on The Mall.

Cheered home by the large crowd, both Dixon and a visibly moved Samuels can now pack their bags for Rio.

Selectors had stated that athletes needed to run the qualification time and finish as one of the first two Brits in order to guarantee selection.

Asked by the BBC how she felt, she said: "Incredible, absolutely amazing, it's a dream come true.

Aly Dixon and Sonia Samuels celebrate clinching places at the Rio 2016 Olympics.Aly Dixon and Sonia Samuels celebrate clinching places at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Aly Dixon and Sonia Samuels celebrate clinching places at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
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"It's 20-odd years of hard work, and you know you dream about these things, you dream about how you're going to celebrate.

"You spend weeks thinking about what you're going to say and then you do it and you're just absolutely gobsmacked and you can't find the words to put what you're feeling."