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Media Relations Department
New York Road Runners
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American Standouts McGregor and Gilmore Added to
ING New York City Marathon Field
A $100,000 U.S.-only prize purse is announced
New York, September 19, 2006—The 2005 USA 10,000-meter champion, Katie
McGregor, will make her long-awaited marathon debut on November 5 at the
ING New York City Marathon 2006, it was announced today by New York Road
Runners president and CEO and ING New York City Marathon race director Mary
Wittenberg. McGregor and rising men's star Peter Gilmore, whose entry in
the race was also announced by Wittenberg today, are among a host of
American hopefuls who will be competing in this year's race.
As part of its continuing support of American long-distance running, NYRR
also announced that a $100,000 prize purse will be divided among the top
five U.S. male and female finishers. The top American man and woman will
each receive $20,000 (see American Division Prize Purse, next page).
"We are proud to add a guaranteed American prize purse to this year's ING
New York City Marathon," said Wittenberg. "Our decision to do so is part of
our longstanding commitment to foster and promote high-level distance
running in this country, as well as a reflection of the caliber of today's
American distance runners. Our best are now among the world's best. Our
up-and-comers have the potential to surpass the current stars someday. This
announcement is part of an overall celebration of American distance
running."
McGregor joins a women's field that includes 2004 Olympic marathon bronze
medalist Deena Kastor of the United States, defending champion Jelena
Prokopcuka of Latvia, and 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist Catherine
Ndereba of Kenya. Gilmore, who was seventh at this year's Boston Marathon,
steps into an impressive lineup of American men led by Olympic marathon
silver medalist Meb Keflezighi and Olympians Alan Culpepper and Dathan
Ritzenhein. Defending ING New York City Marathon champion and world
record-holder Paul Tergat of Kenya and reigning Olympic marathon champion
Stefano Baldini of Italy are also in the field.
McGregor, 29, just missed an Olympic berth with her fourth-place finish in
the 10,000 meters at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, but she returned in
2005 with her finest season yet, capturing national titles and setting
personal bests on the track (10,000 meters) and the roads (10K).
"Katie's debut is the most highly anticipated debut of an American woman
since Deena Kastor and Marla Runyan," said Wittenberg. "Like a train, we
have seen her coming from a distance, consistently chugging along and each
year gathering steam."
As an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, McGregor, who now
resides in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, was a nine-time All-American and won
NCAA titles in the 1998 NCAA Indoor Championship 3000 meters, the 1998 NCAA
Indoor Championship Distance Medley Relay, and the 1998 NCAA Cross Country
Championship. Her personal-best time of 31:21.20 in the 10,000 meters came
in 2005 when she finished 14th at the IAAF World Championships.
"I am very excited to run the ING New York City Marathon," said McGregor.
"I can't imagine a better way to experience the city than running through
the five boroughs and celebrating years of tradition, diversity, and
character with all the other runners and spectators. I am ready for the
challenge."
Gilmore, 29, of San Mateo, California, finished seventh in the 2006 Boston
Marathon with a personal-best time of 2:12:45. He competed as a member of
Team USA in the 2005 IAAF World Championships Marathon. Last year in New
York, he posted a time of 2:16:39 to place 17th overall.
"Peter is in a position to motivate high school and college runners
everywhere," said Wittenberg. "This is a regular guy who is a workhorse and
believes in himself. With little fanfare and steady progression, he has
propelled himself into the upper echelons of USA distance running."
In addition to McGregor and Gilmore, New York Road Runners announced
Americans Matt Downin (Madison, Wisconsin), Joe Driscoll (Blowing Rock,
North Carolina), Matt Gabrielson (St. Paul, Minnesota), and Zika Palmer
(Blowing Rock, North Carolina) for the ING New York City Marathon 2006.
Downin was 11th last year in New York with a time of 2:14:28. Driscoll and
Gabrielson will be making their marathon debuts, while Palmer, who is
program director of an elite development camp in North Carolina, recorded a
personal-best marathon time of 2:41:06 at the Twin Cities Marathon/USA
Marathon Championships in 2005.
ING New York City Marathon 2006 American Division Prize Purse
(equal for men and women; cumulative with open amounts, if applicable)
1 $20,000
2 $15,000
3 $10,000
4 $3,000
5 $2,000
Total $50,000 men + $50,000 women = $100,000
New York Road Runners
New York Road Runners, soon to celebrate its 50th anniversary, is dedicated
to promoting the sport of distance running, enhancing health and fitness
for all, and responding to community needs. Our road races and other
fitness programs draw upwards of 300,000 runners annually, and together
with our magazine and website support and promote professional and
recreational running. A staff of 60, assisted by thousands of volunteers,
stages the ING New York City Marathon, as well as a road race nearly every
weekend plus many track and cross country events. NYRR's home base in New
York, and its lifelong identification with Central Park, have given many of
its events iconic status, attracting the world's top professional runners.
Our youth programs provide running to 15,000 New York City schoolchildren
who would otherwise have few or no fitness opportunities. For more
information visit www.nyrr.org.
The ING New York City Marathon
The premier event of New York Road Runners, the ING New York City Marathon
is one of the world's great road races, drawing more than 90,000
applicants. The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, not
only for the more than $600,000 in prize money, but also for the chance to
excel in the media capital of the world before two million cheering
spectators and 312 million worldwide television viewers. As any one of the
672,000 past participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central
Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime. For more information visit
www.ingnycmarathon.org.
World Marathon Majors
The ING New York City Marathon is one of five events in the World Marathon
Majors series that showcases the sport's top athletes and awards an
unprecedented $1 million champion's prize. The WMM series also includes the
Boston Marathon, the Flora London Marathon, the real,- Berlin Marathon, and
the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. For more information visit
www.worldmarathonmajors.com.
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