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ING New York City Marathon Wheelchair Champion Ernst Van Dyk Set to Defend
His Title on November 5
Women's field features two of the top three finishers from a year ago
New York, October 17, 2006—Reigning ING New York City Marathon wheelchair
champion and world record-holder Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa will defend
his crown at this year's race on Sunday, November 5, it was announced today
by New York Road Runners. Van Dyk will compete against a star-studded field
featuring former champions Saul Mendoza of Mexico and Krige Schabort, also
of South Africa.
The women's wheelchair field features last year's second-place finisher
Christina Ripp of Westminster, Colorado, and third-place finisher Shelly
Woods of Great Britain. Two-time winner and course record-holder Edith
Hunkeler of Switzerland was a last-minute scratch after breaking her leg in
a crash at the recent IPC Championships Marathon in the Netherlands.
Ten countries will be represented overall in the professional wheelchair
division at this year's ING New York City Marathon, including for the first
time, participants from Spain and France.
"We have an all-star men's race and we look forward to crowning the
champion, whether a repeat or a first-time winner," said Mary Wittenberg,
president and CEO of New York Road Runners and race director of the ING New
York City Marathon. "Our women's race is an intriguing mix of the best
veterans and newcomers to the sport. May the best woman win on the streets
of New York."
Van Dyk, 33, set the course record at last year's race with a time of
1:31:11. He is coming off three marathon wins so far in 2006, including his
sixth consecutive Boston Marathon championship. His other victories were
collected at the City of Los Angeles Marathon and the Schenkon Marathon.
Van Dyk set the world record of 1:18:27 at the 2004 Boston Marathon. He is
the first and only racer to break the 1:20 barrier.
The 2001 and 2004 champion Mendoza, 39, and Schabort, 43, the winner here
in 2002 and 2003, are expected to mount serious challenges to dethrone Van
Dyk. Schabort was the runner-up to Van Dyk at this year's Boston and
Schenkon Marathons.
Other contenders include Mexico's Aaron Gordian Minz, who was second at
last year's ING New York City Marathon with a time of 1:31:28, and
Australia's Kurt Fearnley, who was third last year with a time of 1:31:45.
The door is open on the women's side with two-time defending champion
Hunkeler out of the competition. Ripp, 26, last year's runner-up, is
looking for her first ING New York City Marathon title in her fourth try.
She was second in 2003, fifth in 2004, and second last year with her best
time yet through the five boroughs (1:55:39). The youthful Woods, just 20
years old, holds the British record in the 5000 meters. She has finished
second in the last two Flora London Marathons and won a bronze medal at the
recent IPC Championships Marathon.
Adding to the competition in the women's field will be Diane Roy, 35, of
Canada, who has placed top four in New York the past three years. Sandra
Graf, 37, of Switzerland, was second in New York in 2004 and has been
stellar so far this year with first-place finishes at the real,- Berlin
Marathon and the IPC World Championships Marathon. A late entry, another
20-year old, Amanda McGrory, a University of Illinois product, could
surprise based on her recent performances.
The first-place male and female finishers in the wheelchair division will
each receive a $5,000 cash award along with the Samuel Rudin Trophy, a
silver tray designed by Tiffany & Co. and presented by the Rudin Family.
Wheelchair Division Presented by Avis Prize Money Breakdown
Men Women
1 $5,000 $5,000
2 $4,000 $4,000
3 $3,000* $3,000**
4 $2,000* $2,000**
5 $1,500* $1,500**
* If sub-1:50
** If sub-2:15
Bonuses
Cumulative with prize money; only highest time-bonus amount awarded
Course record $1,500 (sub-1:31:11 men, sub-1:53:27 women; winner only)
Times $500 men sub-1:40, women sub-2:05
$350 men sub-1:50, women sub-2:15
ING New York City Marathon 2006 Competitive Wheelchair Athletes
(as of October 17, 2006)
Men
Tyler Byers, United States
Kurt Fearnley, Australia
Aaron Gordian Minz, Mexico
Kenny Herriot, Scotland
Denis Lemeunier, France
Saul Mendoza, Mexico
Roger Puigbo Verdaguer, Spain
Krige Schabort, South Africa
Ernst Van Dyk, South Africa
Women
April Coughlin, United States
Sandra Graf, Switzerland
Amanda McGrory, United States
Miriam Nibley Ladner, United States
Shirley Reilly, United States
Christina Ripp, United States
Diane Roy, Canada
Shelly Woods, Great Britain
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.
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