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Jul-18-2005
Swiss Marathoner RÖTHLIN To Run New York
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
Taking the lead from Tegla Loroupe in the 21st mile of the 1997 edition of
the race, the late Franziska Rochat-Moser became the only Swiss athlete to
ever win the ING New York City Marathon, one of the biggest upsets in the
history of the race. This year, another Swiss athlete, Viktor Röthlin,
hopes to make a similar breakthrough when he runs the famous Five Borough
race for the first time on Sunday, November 6.
"While no Swiss man has ever won in New York, Viktor might change all of
that this year," said Mary Wittenberg, President and CEO of the New York
Road Runners, which organizes the marathon. She pointed out that the race
has a history of catapulting athletes to international stardom, like past
champions Alberto Salazar, Orlando Pizzolato, and German Silva. "This might
be Viktor's time," added Wittenberg.
A veteran of nine marathons and a two-time Olympian, Röthlin, 30, is the
Swiss record holder for both the marathon (2:09:56) and 20 km (59:47).
He's run the Zürich Marathon three times, winning in 2004, when he set his
national record, and finishing second in 2003 (2:11:05) and fourth this year
(2:11:00). His other career best times are 13:40.28 for 5000m, 28:22.53 for
10,000m, and 1:02:47 for the half-marathon.
Röthlin, from Kerns, will wear bib #10 in New York. He will face off
against defending champion, Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, and Olympic
silver medalist, Meb Keflezighi, whose participation has already been
announced. It will be the 36th edition of the race, the world's largest
marathon with 36,562 finishers in 2004.
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