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Jul-19-2007
Champions to Defend ING NYC Marathon Titles
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
The man and woman who reached the finish line first at last November's ING New York City Marathon, Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil and Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, will defend their titles on November 4, race organizers announced today.
Gomes dos Santos, who is gearing up now to compete in the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, scored a big upset at last year's contest when he broke away from defending champion Paul Tergat late in the race and was never caught.
He became the first South American ever to win the world's largest and most famous marathon.
"Last year's ING New York City Marathon was Marilson's coming-out party as one of the world's top marathoners," observed New York Road Runners'
president and CEO, Mary Wittenberg, who also serves as the race director.
"What a thrill it was to welcome our first South American across the line last year. I fully expect Marilson to prove this year that he is no one-hit wonder."
The 29 year-old Gomes dos Santos, the South American record holder for both 5000m (13:19.43) and 10,000m (27:28.12), knows that to win again will be tough. "I know that to repeat as champion in 2007 will not be easy, but I learned last year that I can run with, and defeat, any of the world's top marathoners," he said in a prepared statement. "I know that I will not have the element of surprise on my side this year, so I must be prepared to run much faster than ever before."
For Prokopcuka, the World Marathon Majors points leader and already a two-time ING New York City Marathon champion, another victory at New York could also mean a half-share of the $1,000,000 jackpot which will be split by the male and female points leaders at the conclusion of the 2006/2007 WMM series which wraps up in New York. She leads the series with 55 points over Ethiopian Gete Wami who has 40 points. A race victory means 25 valuable points.
"This race excites me very much because if I win, I'll become the second woman after Grete Waitz to win the ING New York City Marathon three times in a row," said Prokopcuka, who is also a student of the marathoning history.
"This can make me a legend."
Prokopcuka first prevailed in 2005 in a thrilling two-way battle with Kenya's Susan Chepkemei. The two athletes entered Central Park together, but Prokopcuka outsprinted Chepkemei to win 2:24:41 to 2:24:55. In last year's race, Prokopcuka won handily by a minute over a stacked field in 2:25:05. At 30 years-old, she would win the race again several more times.
"Jelena has the strength, speed, and poise to win it all and comfortably wear all the crowns," added Wittenberg.
The ING New York City Marathon will celebrate its 38th running this year.
Founded in 1970 by the New York Road Runners, the first edition had only 55 finishers, all men. Last year's race boasted 37,866 finishers making it the largest marathon in history.
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