FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Powerful Pack of 2012 Olympians Led by Americans Shalane Flanagan, Kara
Goucher, and Matt Tegenkamp and Defending Champion Chris Thompson of Great
Britain to Run NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K on Saturday, November 3
Part of ING New York City Marathon weekend festivities, the 5K race will
start near the United Nations and end at the famed Marathon finish line in
Central Park
World-class field also includes Molly Huddle, Daniele Meucci, Lopez Lomong,
and Evan Jager
New York, October 10, 2012-Olympic medalist Shalane Flanagan, the top
American in the 2012 London Olympic Marathon; her London teammate and
two-time Olympian Kara Goucher; and 13 other 2012 Olympians including Matt
Tegenkamp and defending champion Chris Thompson will run the second annual
NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K on Saturday, November 3, during ING New
York City Marathon weekend, it was announced today by New York Road Runners
president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
The professional field also includes U.S. 5000-meter record-holder Molly
Huddle, 2012 UAE Healthy Kidney 10K winner Daniele Meucci, two-time USA
Olympian Lopez Lomong, and American steeplechase record-holder Evan Jager.
The strength of the field is unparalleled by any other 5K in the world this
year, with 17 Olympians (15 from 2012), eight women with personal bests
under 15:20, and 11 men with personal bests under 13:20.
The course gives runners a high-speed tour of several of Manhattan's most
celebrated landmarks and roadways, starting near the United Nations,
crossing midtown's renowned 42nd Street, with a grand-finale tour of
Central Park that leads runners along the famed finishing stretch of the
ING New York City Marathon. The event, open to all runners including
marathoners and their friends and families, allows everyone to be a part of
the infectious Marathon excitement. You'll even see famous faces "dashing"
through the city: American actor and producer Billy Baldwin and
professional women's basketball player and Team USA 2008 Olympic gold
medalist Kara Lawson will both toe the line.
"The Dash to the Finish Line 5K is a phenomenal way to experience the joy
of Marathon weekend with runners, friends, family, and supporters from
around the world," said Wittenberg. "This will be one of the most
competitive and fun 5K's this year, with nearly 20 Olympians joining more
than 5,000 others in a dash through NYC that ends in an unforgettable
way-crossing the iconic Marathon finish line in Central Park."
Flanagan, 31, of Portland, OR, won the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in
a time of 2:25:38 and went on to finish 10th in the Olympic Marathon. She
is the American record-holder at 3000 and 5000 meters indoors and 10,000
meters outdoors; she set the 10,000-meter mark of 30:22:22 when she took
the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She also took bronze
at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, and she took second at
the 2010 ING New York City Marathon in her debut at the distance.
Goucher, 34, of Portland OR, was third at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon
Trials in a time of 2:26:06 and finished 11th in the London Olympic
Marathon. A native of Queens, she has run the NYC Half twice, finishing
third both times. At the 2011 Boston Marathon, she finished fifth in a
personal-best time of 2:24:26. Goucher made her mark on the ING New York
City Marathon in 2008, when she ran the fastest-ever debut marathon by an
American woman-2:25:53-and finished third. The time is also the fastest
ever by an American woman at the race. At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team
Trials, Goucher achieved the rare feat of qualifying for Team USA in two
events, winning the 5000 meters and placing second in the 10,000 meters.
"I'm really looking forward to coming back to New York for the Dash to the
Finish Line 5K," said Goucher. "I always love racing in the Big Apple, and
I especially like the idea of experiencing all the fun and excitement of
the ING New York City Marathon weekend without having to run the full
26.2!"
Tegenkamp, 30, of Portland, OR, holds the American two-mile record at
8:07:07, which he ran in 2007 at the Prefontaine Classic. His time of
12:58.56 for 5000 meters makes him the fifth-fastest American in history at
that distance. At the U.S. Olympic Trials earlier this year, Tegenkamp
finished second in the 10,000 meters with a time of 27:33.94 to make his
second Olympic team. He finished seventh at last year's NYRR Dash to the
Finish Line 5K.
Thompson, 30, of Great Britain, won the 2011 NYRR Dash to the Finish Line
with a big kick, passing two men in the final 100 meters. In his most
recent NYC appearance, he took seventh at the 2012 NYC Half in a time of
1:01:23. Thompson was the 2010 European Championships silver medalist at
10,000 meters, and he competed in that event at the 2012 London Olympic
Games.
"New York has always been a great place to run, but last year, experiencing
Marathon weekend was something else," said Thompson. "To have been able to
take part in, and win, the first-ever 5K race that weekend was not only a
great achievement for me, but so much fun to be a part of. This having been
an Olympic year makes this sort of race a real treat you've earned."
Meucci, 27, of Italy, set his 10,000-meter personal best of 27:32.86 in
Palo Alto, CA, and qualified for the 2012 Italian Olympic team. A month
later, he won the 2012 UAE Healthy Kidney 10K in Central Park. Meucci
competed in both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters in London.
Huddle, 28, of Providence, RI, set the American 5000-meter record of
14:44.76 in 2010 at the Memorial Van Damme Diamond League meet in Brussels.
In 2011, she was runner-up at the USA Cross Country Championships, earning
a spot on Team USA for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Huddle
also made the U.S. Olympic team for London, where she finished 11th in the
5000 meters.
Jager, 23, of Portland, OR, set an American record of 8:06.81 for the
3000-meter steeplechase this year and finished sixth in the event at the
London Olympic Games. On August 17th, he ran a new personal best of 7:35 in
the 3000 meters at the Stockholm Diamond League meet, finishing fifth. He
finished 10th at last year's NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K.
Lomong, 27, ran in his second Olympic Games this summer, finishing 10th in
the 5000 meters. The three-time NCAA champion for Northern Arizona
University finished eighth at last year's NYRR Dash to the Finish 5K.
Other top contenders:
-Lisa Uhl, 25, of Ames, IA, is a four-time NCAA Division I champion.
Earlier this year, she qualified for her first Olympic Games, where she
finished 13th in the 10,000 meters in a personal-best 31:12.80. She
finished eighth at last year's NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K.
-Chris Solinsky, 27, of Portland, OR, is the former American 10,000-meter
record-holder with a time of 26:59:60. While at the University of
Wisconsin, he won five NCAA Division I championships. He finished 12th
in the 5000 meters at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
-Ben True, 26, of Hanover, NH, is the two-time defending USA 5K champion
and the two-time defending champion at the B.A.A. 5K on Boston Marathon
weekend. Last Sunday, he finished second at the USA 10-Mile Championship
in Minnesota. He finished sixth at last year's NYRR Dash to the Finish
Line 5K.
The NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K brings together runners from around the
world. Heightening the international flair of the event is first-year race
sponsor Wonderful Indonesia, who will be celebrating and supporting the
diversity of NYC and the Marathon by providing finisher food bags to all
race participants.
The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 3, at Dag
Hammarskjold Plaza, near the United Nations. For more race details, please
visit http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/nyrr-dash-to-the-finish-line-5k.
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 47,000 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.
###
|
