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Sep-12-2007
New York Adds Firepower to Men's Marathon Field
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
Reigning ING New York City Marathon champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil will have to overcome the challenges of four more marquis men if he wants to retain his title on Nov. 4. Race founders and organizers, New York Road Runners, have added significantly more firepower to their field with the announcement that Martin Lel, Rodgers Rop, Stephen Kiogora, and Abderrahim Goumri have been added to their field.
"What a stellar nucleus to our men's field: four former champions and the reigning gold and silver medalists from New York and London," said race director Mary Wittenberg, the president and CEO of New York Road Runners.
"Each man is good enough to win here in 2007."
Lel, who sits in second position in the 2006/2007 World Marathon Majors leaderboard with 40 points, already has an ING New York City Marathon title under his belt from 2003, and has won the Flora London Marathon twice, in
2005 and 2007. Injuries kept him out of New York the last two years, but his 2:07:41 clocking in London last April where he won in a thrilling sprint finish demonstrated that the 28 year-old Kenyan should be ready to challenge for another NYC title.
Rop was a surprise New York winner in 2002, running one of the fastest times ever for New York's challenging course: 2:08:07. He was also third in 2001 and second in 2003. After that, the 31 year-old's career seemed to be heading off track with a few lackluster performances. But, in 2006, he ran a 2:07:34 personal best in London, good for sixth place, then won Hamburg last April in yet another personal best of 2:07:32.
Kiogora, also known by his nickname "Baba," had one of his best days on the roads last year in New York when he finished second to Gomes in 2:10:06, relegating world record holder Paul Tergat to third place. He's coached by Dieter Hogen in Boulder, Colo., where he is currently preparing for New York.
Goumri was won of the big surprises of the 2007 spring marathon season.
Withstanding the quick early pace in London he found himself in the final pack of eight men at 35-K. The former 5000m specialist knew that if he could hold on until the final kilometer his track speed could carry him to victory. It nearly did. Lel's sprint was too strong for the Moroccan's but still allowed Goumri to beat former London and Chicago champion Felix Limo to third place. Goumri's 2:07:44 debut performance was the talk of London.
There's big money on the line at New York, which has the highest prize money payout of any of the Majors. The men's and women's winners will each receive $130,000 in cash plus a Toyota Prius hybrid which, according to the website Edmunds.com, is valued at $22,175. Athletes are also eligible for significant time bonuses. Gomes dos Santos earned $155,000 in prize money and time incentives last year, plus a car.
New York will be the final race in the 2006/2007 World Marathon Majors season. The day after the race, the male and female season points leaders will each be awarded $500,000 in a special ceremony.
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