FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
After Heartbreak in Boston, Kim Smith Is Ready for
Next Marathon Challenge at the ING New York City Marathon
American 5000-meter record-holder Molly Huddle announces participation in
the NYRR 5 on Saturday, November 5, during ING New York City Marathon
weekend
Runners make announcement at NYRR Mighty Milers Fun Run on National Running
Day
New York, June 1, 2011—Coming off a heartbreaking race at April's Boston
Marathon, where she led for 17 miles before a leg injury forced her to
withdraw, New Zealander Kim Smith will make her marathon return at the ING
New York City Marathon 2011 on November 6, it was announced today by New
York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
The marathon will be the second of two planned appearances in New York this
year for Smith, as it was also announced that she will run the NYRR New
York Mini 10K on Saturday, June 11, as her first race since Boston. The
race will pay tribute to New York City Marathon great Grete Waitz, who
passed away in April.
Additionally, Smith's training partner Molly Huddle, the USA 5000-meter
record-holder, was the first professional athlete announced for the NYRR 5
that will take place on Saturday, November 5, during ING New York City
Marathon weekend. The race will feature a professional athlete field;
still-to-be-announced prize money, start time, and course details; and a
finish under the marathon finish-line banner.
The announcements were made at Icahn Stadium, where the runners joined
2,000 schoolchildren for the New York Road Runners Mighty Milers Fun Run as
part of the third annual National Running Day celebration.
Smith will join three-time Olympian Jen Rhines of the United States and
defending champion Edna Kiplagat of Kenya on the marathon starting line.
Rhines and Kiplagat were previously announced on Marathon Opening Day on
April 27, along with defending champion Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia and
ING New York City Marathon 2009 champion Meb Keflezighi of the United
States.
"It's great to have two of the best women athletes in the world here today
to celebrate National Running Day," said Wittenberg. "Both Kim and Molly
are young at heart and full of athletic potential. Their best remains in
front of them, and that's so exciting for all these kids here with us
today. They are meeting two of our young superstars on their way up. We are
thrilled they will be both be headlining major NYRR events this year."
Smith, 29, a native of Auckland who now lives in Providence, RI, won four
NCAA titles in two seasons at Providence College. She holds 12 New Zealand
records at distances from the mile to the marathon (2:25:21, London, 2010).
"I can't wait to step on the line in November for the ING New York City
Marathon," said Smith. "I want to put my Boston Marathon experience behind
me and I hope to do that in New York. Marathon weekend in New York is so
exciting and it is a lot of fun to be part of the buzz."
Huddle, 26, also of Providence, had a breakout year in 2010, setting the
American 5000-meter record of 14:44.76 at the Brussels Diamond League meet
and winning her second USA 10K championship. Huddle also finished second at
the 5000 meters in the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships. She has won five
additional USA championships over distances from 5K to 10 miles.
"It will be my third time attending the marathon, and it is always a very
dramatic and exciting weekend, so I can't wait to see what happens in
2011," said Huddle. "I look forward to June 1 and lacing up in NYC on
National Running Day, and I can't wait to come back to New York to be, in a
small way, part of the marathon festivities. Hopefully someday I will be
adding to that distance on the streets of NYC!"
New York Road Runners
Headquartered in New York City, New York Road Runners is dedicated to
advancing the sport of running, enhancing health and fitness for all, and
meeting our community's needs. Our goal is to use the expertise acquired in
our 53-year history to empower all people to live fitter, healthier lives
through participation in our races, community events, instruction and
training resources, and youth programs. Our races and other events draw
more than 300,000 people each year. The ING New York City Marathon, NYRR's
premier event, is the largest and most inclusive marathon in the world,
attracting the world's top professional runners every year and raising
$30.8 million for charity in 2010. NYRR's running-based youth programs,
which currently serve more than 100,000 children in hundreds of schools and
community centers, promote children's health and fitness, character
development, and personal achievement in underserved communities. 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 some 140,000 applicants.
The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, not only for the
$800,000 in prize money, but also for the chance to excel in the media
capital of the world before two million cheering spectators and a worldwide
broadcast reach of 330 million. As any one of the more than 875,000 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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