FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
America's Favorite Running All-Stars-Meb Keflezighi, Ryan Hall, and
Kara Goucher-Ready to Race 2013 ING New York City Marathon
Trio is Part of American Field Containing Six Olympians, also Including
Julie Culley, Amy Hastings, and Janet Bawcom
New York, July 30, 2013-Three of the nation's most accomplished and admired
long-distance runners-Meb Keflezighi, Ryan Hall, and Kara Goucher-will run
the 2013 ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 3, it was announced
today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. The
talented trio will lead a group of highly competitive U.S. athletes who are
the first official entrants into this year's professional athlete field.
Keflezighi, Hall, and Goucher are among the total of six Olympic athletes
confirmed thus far, along with 2012 U.S. Olympians Julie Culley (5000
meters), Amy Hastings (10,000 meters), and Janet Bawcom (10,000 meters).
Additional top American men announced for the race include two-time
fourth-place Boston Marathon finisher Jason Hartmann, last year's
eighth-ranked U.S. marathoner Ryan Vail, and 2013 World Championships team
member Jeffrey Eggleston. Other top American women include 2012 U.S.
Olympic Trials 10,000-meter fifth-place finisher Alisha Williams, 2013 USA
Half-Marathon Champion Adriana Nelson, and Mattie Suver, the top American
finisher at the 2013 Oakley New York Mini 10K.
Athlete Backgrounds and Notable Performances
·Keflezighi, 38, of San Diego, CA, was the 2004 Athens Olympic Marathon
silver medalist and finished fourth in the 2012 London Olympic Marathon. In
2009, he became the first American since Alberto Salazar in 1982 to win the
ING New York City Marathon. Keflezighi has finished in the top 10 in the
ING New York City Marathon six times, most recently with a sixth-place
finish in 2011.
·Hall, 30, of Redding, CA, will be running the ING New York City Marathon
for the second time after finishing fourth in 2009 in 2:10:36. He finished
10th in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon, but was forced to drop out of
the 2012 London race with a hamstring injury. At the 2011 Boston Marathon,
Hall took fourth place in a time of 2:04:58-the fastest all-conditions
performance ever run by an American. He holds the American half-marathon
record at 59:43.
·Goucher, 35, of Portland, OR, ran the fastest-ever-marathon-debut by an
American woman when she finished third at the 2008 ING New York City
Marathon in a time of 2:25:33, also the fastest time ever by an American
woman in New York. It was the first time in 14 years that an American woman
had placed in the top three at the race. At the Boston Marathon, Goucher
has finished third in 2009, fifth in 2011 (in a personal-best 2:24:52), and
sixth this year. She finished 11th in the 2012 London Olympic Marathon in a
time of 2:26:07. She was the 2007 World Championships bronze medalist at
10,000 meters.
Quotes
Ryan Hall
"I have one goal in mind for this year's ING New York City Marathon:
redemption-restore what has been lost. I have had my fair share of
struggles since qualifying for the 2012 London Olympic Marathon; however,
those struggles are now behind me and the lessons learned are paving the
path to what I hope is a very redemptive ING New York City Marathon. I am
expecting this year's race to be the most inspirational race in recent
memory."
Meb Keflezighi
"Running the ING New York City Marathon is always a great pleasure and
honor for me. This year's race will be extra- special because of the
cancellation last year. As always, I will train and ‘run to win.'"
Kara Goucher
"I am so excited to be returning to the ING New York City Marathon. So much
in my life has changed during the five years since I last ran this race,
but my love for NYC remains the same; it feels like a full-circle moment to
return to NYC, where my marathon career began and to return with my son.
NYRR has been such an incredible and supportive part of my marathon career.
I have been eager to return to NYC when the timing was right, and the time
is now. I look forward to testing myself in the most prestigious marathon
in the world."
Mary Wittenberg
"Meb, Ryan, and Kara are examples of what is so great about our
sport-competitors who overcome obstacles, keep going, and help lift the
running community. On Marathon Day we'll run for our City, for Boston, and
for runners everywhere. In this year of added meaning, it is an honor to
welcome back so many of our City's and our nation's favorite American
runners and to have these three great athletes lead us as the spirit and
excitement of this great race returns to New York."
Elite Men Marathon Personal Best Twitter
Ryan Hall 2:04:58 @ryanhall3
Meb Keflezighi 2:09:08 @runmeb
Jason Hartmann 2:11:06 @JasonRHartmann
Ryan Vail 2:11:45 @ryanvail
Jeff Eggleston 2:12:03 @jde66leston
Elite Women Marathon Personal Best Twitter Handle
Kara Goucher 2:24:52 @karagoucher
Amy Hastings 2:27:03 @HastyHastings
Adriana Nelson 2:28:52 @adi_nelson
Janet Bawcom 2:29:45 @janetruns
Alisha Williams 2:34:58 @alirunnerco
Mattie Suver 2:50:23 @suver2
Julie Culley Debut @julieculley
The Marathon will be televised live nationally on ESPN2 and WatchESPN.com
from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST, and will be available on mobile devices
via WatchESPN. Locally, New Yorkers can watch the race on ABC7 or
7online.com from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or via WatchABC on mobile devices.
Also on Sunday, there will be a national highlight show on local ABC
affiliates from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
For the latest Marathon news, updates, features, and media information,
please visit the NYRR online media room at media.nyrr.org or follow us on
Twitter @nyrrnews.
About the ING New York City Marathon
NYRR's premier event, the ING New York City Marathon is the most loved and
most inclusive marathon in the world, attracting elite athletes and
recreational runners alike for the challenge and thrill of a lifetime. The
race has grown tremendously since it began in 1970 with just 127 runners
racing four laps of Central Park. Now, more than 48,000 participants from
all over the globe flock to New York City every November for an
adrenaline-filled road tour of all five boroughs, starting on Staten Island
at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and ending in Central Park.
Some run for prize money or bragging rights, others for charity or their
personal best. All are cheered on by more than two million live spectators
and a TV audience of 330 million.
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