FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Olympic Medalist Molly Seidel to Lead Strongest Field of American Women
in TCS New York City Marathon History on November 7
Tokyo Olympians Aliphine Tuliamuk, Sally Kipyego and Emily Sisson, and
Boston Marathon champion Des Linden to highlight open division
Five-time champion Tatyana McFadden, two-time champion Amanda McGrory and
three-time Mini 10K winner Susannah Scaroni to headline wheelchair division
New York, August 18, 2021 - Olympic medalist Molly Seidel will make her TCS
New York City Marathon debut after winning bronze at the Tokyo Games,
leading what will be the strongest field of American women in TCS New York
City Marathon history at the event's 50th running on Sunday, November 7.
Joining Seidel in New York in the professional athlete field will be 2020
U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion Aliphine Tuliamuk, 2012 Olympic
silver medalist Sally Kipyego, 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000 meters
champion Emily Sisson, and 2018 Boston Marathon winner and two-time
Olympian Des Linden.
In her third marathon ever, Seidel won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics,
hanging with the lead pack for the entire race to finish in 2:27:46 and
become only the third American woman in history (Joan Benoit, 1984; Deena
Kastor, 2004) to medal in the Olympic marathon. In her first career
marathon - the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials - Seidel finished as the
runner-up in 2:27:31, becoming the youngest American woman to make an
Olympic marathon team since 1992. Later in 2020, she went on to finish
sixth in her second career marathon in London in 2:25:13.
"Since the beginning of 2021, I've had two races circled on my calendar:
The Olympic Games Marathon on August 7, and the TCS New York City Marathon
on November 7," Seidel said. "Winning the bronze medal in Sapporo showed
that I can run with the best in the world, and on any given day, anything
is possible. I can't think of a better year to run my first New York than
in its 50th running."
Tuliamuk won the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing first in
Atlanta in 2:27:23 to make her first Olympic team four years after gaining
U.S. citizenship. Tuliamuk gave birth to her daughter in January 2021 and
returned to training in time to compete in Tokyo, where she dropped out of
the marathon near the 20km mark. This will be the third time she races the
TCS New York City Marathon; she was 12th in 2019 (2:28:12) and 13th in 2017
(2:33:18).
"Winning the U.S. Olympic Trials and representing the United States in the
Olympic Games earlier this month were dreams fulfilled," Tuliamuk said. "I
want to inspire people, most importantly my daughter, to chase their
dreams. I'm a different athlete and person than I was the last time I ran
the TCS New York City Marathon in 2019, so why not fulfill one more dream
on November 7?"
Kipyego, who won a silver medal in the 10,000 meters for Kenya at the
London 2012 Olympics, represented the U.S. in Tokyo, finishing 17th in the
marathon after placing third at the Trials. Kipyego was the runner-up at
the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon, clocking in at 2:28:01 behind Mary
Keitany; she later discovered she was four weeks pregnant at the time.
"I made my marathon debut at the TCS New York City Marathon, and I've been
itching to get back to the race since my runner-up finish there in 2016,"
Kipyego said. "My life has changed a lot since then - I improved my
marathon personal best, became a mother, and gained U.S. citizenship - but
one thing that hasn't changed is my dream of reaching the top step of that
podium in Central Park."
Sisson will make her TCS New York City Marathon debut after having made her
Olympic debut in Tokyo this summer. In June, she won the 10,000 meters at
the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, running a 31:03.82 in the
blistering heat to break the 17-year-old Trials record of 31:09.65 set by
Deena Kastor in 2004. Sisson has been very successful in her last three
trips to New York, finishing as the runner-up at the United Airlines NYC
Half twice and winning the USATF 5km Championships. She made her 26.2-mile
debut at the 2019 London Marathon, finishing in sixth place in 2:23:08, the
fastest-ever debut by an American.
"I've loved being a part of TCS New York City Marathon weekend at the
Abbott Dash 5K and riding a lead vehicle in front of the race, and I'm
excited to finally make my debut in the race after running it virtually
last year," Sisson said. "Nothing beats racing in the Big Apple, and to do
so alongside America's top women's distance runners will make it even more
special."
Linden became the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon open
division in 33 years in 2018 and is a two-time Olympian, finishing seventh
at the Rio 2016 Olympic marathon. At the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon,
Linden was fourth in 2:29:03. To kick off 2021, she ran 2:59:54 in the 50K,
a world best for the distance.
Also joining the field in the open division will be fifth and sixth-place
U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials finishers Laura Thweatt and Stephanie Bruce,
and eighth-place Trials finisher Kellyn Taylor.
Tatyana McFadden, a 17-time Paralympic medalist competing in five events at
the Tokyo Paralympics later this month, will race for her record sixth TCS
New York City Marathon title in the wheelchair division. McFadden won New
York in 2010 and every year from 2013-2016, and her winning time of 1:43:04
in 2015 remains the course record.
"I am very excited about competing in New York since it's the final test
this fall after Tokyo and all the other major marathons," McFadden said.
"The 50th running will be about people coming together after a difficult
year, and a celebration of our community."
Challenging McFadden will be seven-time Paralympic medalist Amanda McGrory,
racing for her third title, and three-time Mastercard New York Mini 10K
champion Susannah Scaroni, going for her first victory. Both McGrory and
Scaroni will also be competing at the Tokyo Paralympics in multiple
distances.
The 2021 TCS New York City Marathon women's professional athlete field is
presented by Mastercard. The race will be televised live on Sunday,
November 7, on WABC-TV Channel 7 in the New York tristate area, throughout
the rest of the nation on ESPN2, and around the world by various
international broadcasters.
Professional Athlete Field - American Women's Open Division
Name Residence Personal Best
Aileen Barry Manhasset, N.Y. 2:44:51
Obsie Birru Phoenix, Ariz. 2:35:51
Molly Bookmyer Columbus, Ohio 2:44:07
Grace Bowen New York, N.Y. 2:44:49
Stephanie Bruce Flagstaff, Ariz. 2:27:47
Jessica Chichester Brooklyn, N.Y. 2:42:16
Annie Frisbie Minneapolis, Minn. Debut
Roberta Groner Ledgewood, N.J. 2:29:09
Ana Johnson New York, N.Y. 2:43:11
Emma Kertesz Boulder, Colo. 2:40:56
Sally Kipyego Eugene, Ore. 2:25:10
Des Linden Charlevoix, Mich. 2:22:28
Ivette Mejia New York, N.Y. 2:38:23
Makenna Myler Highland, Utah Debut
Samantha Roecker Philadelphia, Pa. 2:29:59
Lindsey Scherf White Plains, N.Y. 2:13:19
Molly Seidel Flagstaff, Ariz. 2:25:13
Leigh Anne Sharek Brooklyn, N.Y. 2:42:02
Emily Sisson Phoenix, Ariz. 2:23:08
Kellyn Taylor Flagstaff, Ariz. 2:24:29
Joanna Thompson New York, N.Y. 2:43:01
Laura Thweatt Superior, Colo. 2:25:38
Aliphine Tuliamuk Flagstaff, Ariz. 2:26:50
Professional Athlete Field - American Women's Wheelchair Division
Name Residence Personal Best
Jenna Fesemyer Champaign, Ill. 1:37:02
Yen Hoang Champaign, Ill. 2:01:06
Tatyana McFadden Champaign, Ill. 1:31:30
Amanda McGrory Savoy, Ill. 1:33:13
Arielle Rausin New York, N.Y. 1:40:51
Susannah Scaroni Champaign, Ill. 1:30:42
Michelle Wheeler Boalsburg, Pa. 1:45:55
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
NYRR's mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958,
New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world's
premier community running organization. NYRR's commitment to New York
City's five boroughs features races, virtual races, community events, free
youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring
the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of
thousands of people each year with the motivation, know-how, and
opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR's premier event, and the largest marathon
in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first
Sunday in November, the race features a wide population of runners, from
the world's top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive,
recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
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