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Sep-9-2005
TERGAT TO RUN ING NEW YORK CITY MARATHON
by Bob Ramsak
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
MONTE CARLO - Paul Tergat, the world record holder in the marathon, will
compete in November's ING New York City Marathon, race director Mary
Wittenberg announced today in Monte Carlo.
"Paul will be the headliner among headliners," Wittenberg said.
In a close race, the 36-year-old Tergat set the world record of 2:04:55 at
the real Berlin Marathon in 2003, just a second ahead of another Kenyan,
Sammy Korir. The previous record, 2:05:38, was set by Khalid Khannouchi in
London in 2002.
"I'm delighted and excited to be invited to New York," Tergat said. "I know
the field is very strong. But I love when the field is strong. That is when
I do my best." The race will take place on Sunday, November 6.
Tergat joins a strong field that includes two-time world champion Jaoud
Ghaarib of Morocco, defending champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, and
American Meb Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist and runner-up
last year.
At the Flora London Marathon last April, Tergat finished eighth, and hasn't
raced since. As a warm-up to his first New York appearance, Tergat will
compete in next weekend's Great North Run half-marathon in Newcastle,
England. After a long training stint, Tergat said, "It is good to gauge
yourself with strong competition."
Tergat said that we was well aware of Haile Gebrselassie's planned assault
on the world record at the ING Amsterdam Marathon next month, and wished his
long-time rival and friend all the best.
"I know that he is trying for the world record, and I'm wishing him the
best," Tergat said, adding that the Ethiopian's 2:06:35 performance in
London in 2002 "was an incredible performance." With the right conditions
and pacing, Tergat said Gebrselassie's attempt "is very possible."
Among the most heavily decorated athlete ever in world and Olympic
championship events, Tergat said he has no plans to add to that collection.
"The marathon is the still the challenge now," he said. "Each and every
marathon is different. The distance might be the same, but at the end of the
day, each is very different."
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