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May-12-2008
Marathon Ace Goumri Added to Healthy Kidney 10-K
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
ne of the world's top marathon runners, Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco, has been added to the field of next Saturday's Healthy Kidney 10-K, the New York Road Runners announced today. Goumri, who turns 32 on May 21, was the #2 ranked marathoner in the world last year according to Race Results Weekly, finishing second at both the Flora London and ING New York City Marathons.
"Abderrahim returns to New York and the center stage against this formidable field for another step in a career that has been steadily on the rise the past few years," said NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg through a prepared statement.
Goumri was added to the field in the wake of defending champion Dathan Ritzenhein's withdrawal due to injury. The speedy Moroccan hold's his nation's record for the marathon which he set last April when he finished third at the Flora London Marathon in 2:05:30. He's no slouch at the 10 km distance, either, also holding his nation's 10,000m record of 27:02.62. He's also run 28:34 on the road.
Lining up against Goumri will be a very strong field, including 2006 ING New York City Marathon champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil, 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships silver medalist Patrick Makau of Kenya, reigning USA 15-K champion Andrew Carlson, 2008 USA 8-K third placer Jason Hartmann, Kenyan road running aces Linus Maiyo and Richard Kiplagat, and the man who finished third in last year's Healthy Kidney 10-K Demesse Tefera of Ethiopia.
A special $20,000 bonus is on the line courtesy of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, the race sponsor, should the winner surpass Ritzenhein's event and Central Park record of 28:08. The winner will receive $7,500 out of a $23,500 prize money purse.
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