FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Defending Champions Geoffrey Mutai and Firehiwot Dado,
Reigning World and Olympic Marathon Champion Stephen Kiprotich, and
Two-time World Marathon Champion and 2010 Winner Edna Kiplagat Lead
International Field for 2013 ING New York City Marathon
2012 Olympic Marathon Silver Medalist Priscah Jeptoo Will Battle
Kiplagat in A Race Within The Race For The Women's 2012-2013
World Marathon Majors Series Crown
New York, September 19, 2013-A commanding collection of the world's best
marathoners will vie for the New York and 2012–2013 World Marathon Majors
(WMM) titles at the 2013 ING New York City Marathon on November 3. Reigning
champion and course record-holder Geoffrey Mutai will take on 2013 IAAF
World Championships marathon champion and 2012 Olympic Games men's marathon
winner Stephen Kiprotich, while defending champion Firehiwot Dado will
battle two-time IAAF World Championships marathon champion and 2010 ING New
York City Marathon champion Edna Kiplagat and 2012 Olympic Marathon silver
medalist Priscah Jeptoo, it was announced today by New York Road Runners
president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
The professional fields will include a total of 23 Olympians, representing
23 countries. The U.S. men and women's professional entrants were
previously announced. It was also announced today that the women's field
will lose two-time Olympian and IAAF World Championships medalist Kara
Goucher due to a foot injury.
Additional top international men announced for the race include 2012 Paris
Marathon winner Stanley Biwott, 2012 B.A.A. Boston Marathon champion Wesley
Korir, 2012 NYC Half winner Peter Kirui, two-time Olympian José Manuel
"Chema" Martinez, two-time IAAF World Championships competitor (2011, 2013)
and popular Japanese "citizen runner" Yuki Kawauchi and his compatriot
Masato Imai, 2013 NYC Half runner-up and 2012 UAE Healthy Kidney 10K
champion Daniele Meucci, and IAAF World Championships and European
Championships steeplechase medalist Bob Tahri.
Additional top international women announced include two-time ING New York
City Marathon champion (2005, 06) Jelena Prokopcuka, 2011 ING New York City
Marathon runner-up and Bronx resident Buzunesh Deba, 2013 Osaka Marathon
champion Tetyana Gamera-Shmyrko, 2012 Olympian Risa Shigetomo, 2009 ING New
York City Marathon bronze medalist Christelle Daunay, three-time Olympian
Kim Smith, 2012 Olympian and 2011 ING New York City Marathon fourth-place
finisher Ana Dulce Félix, 2012 Olympian Lisa Stublic, three-time Olympian
Sabrina Mockenhaupt, 2012 Olympian and Brazilian record-holder Adriana Da
Silva, 2013 NYC Half runner-up Diane Nukuri-Johnson, and South American
half-marathon record-holder Yolanda Caballero.
Athlete Backgrounds and Notable Performances
- Mutai, 31, of Kenya, is the reigning ING New York City Marathon champion
and the course record-holder (2:05:05). He ran the fastest marathon ever in
a time of 2 hours 3 minutes 2 seconds at the 2011 B.A.A. Boston Marathon.
He was the 2011-12 World Marathon Majors series champion; he clinched the
title with a victory at the 2012 BMW Berlin Marathon in 2:04:15.
- Dado, 29, of Ethiopia, is the defending ING New York City Marathon
champion. Her winning time of 2:23:15 was the fastest ever by an Ethiopian
and sixth fastest overall at New York City. Dado came to New York City
having won the Rome Marathon for three consecutive years (2009-11). She is
also the 2012 NYC Half winner and course record-holder (1:08:35).
- Kiprotich, 24, of Uganda, won the 2012 Olympic men's marathon in a time
of 2:08:01. His subsequent victory at the 2013 IAAF World Championships
marathon (2:09:51) made him only the second man in history to earn both
titles. He is Uganda's first Olympic Marathon medalist and the first man
and second Ugandan ever to win gold at any event in the World
Championships.
- Kiplagat, 33, of Kenya, is the reigning world marathon champion and is
also the 2011 IAAF world champion in the same distance. She is the only
woman to successfully defend her gold medal at the IAAF World
Championships. Kiplagat won the 2010 ING New York City Marathon in a time
of 2:28:20.
- Jeptoo, 29, of Kenya, is the 2012 Olympic women's marathon silver
medalist and the 2013 Virgin London Marathon champion. She won the Bupa
Great North Run on September 15, 2013 in 65:45, the third-fastest
performance in history over any course. Jeptoo won a trio of marathons from
2009 to 2011: the Porto Marathon (2:30:40), Turin Marathon (2:27:02), and
Paris Marathon (2:22:55).
- Korir, 30, of Kenya, won the 2012 B.A.A. Boston Marathon in a time of
2:12:40. He won three marathons from 2008 to 2010: the Bank of Chicago
Marathon (2:13:53), and LA Marathon (2:08:24, 2:09:19). Korir is a member
of the Kenyan Parliament.
Quotes
Geoffrey Mutai
"I am focused on NY, I feel I am already well prepared for the Marathon on
November 3," said Mutai. "I am confident and looking forward to challenging
myself with my own course record set in 2011. I look forward to coming back
to the city where I am welcomed by many people who make me feel at home."
Edna Kiplagat
"I had, of course, a wonderful experience to win the gold medal at Moscow
last month, and now I am excited to finally be returning to NYC for the
marathon," said Kiplagat. "The New York spectators and the energy in the
races I've done in New York have always been very exciting for me. After
being second in the World Marathon Majors standings for two consecutive
years, I will, of course, do my best to secure the title this year."
Mary Wittenberg
"This year's international field, headlined by champions and World Marathon
Majors title chasers, will celebrate the diversity of the Marathon, and in
essence, the diversity of New York City," said Wittenberg. "At NYRR, we see
a world where everyone, everywhere, benefits from running, and these
decorated international athletes bring stories of hope and inspiration from
around the world that uplift and enrich our global running community. We
can't wait to welcome Geoffrey, Firehiwot, Stephen, Edna, Priscah, and all
of our international runners, both professional and recreational, to New
York."
Elite Men Marathon Personal Best Twitter Handle
Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) 2:04:15, Berlin, 2012
Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:05:12, Paris, 2012
Wesley Korir (KEN) 2:06:13, Chicago, 2012 @weskorir
Peter Kirui (KEN) 2:06:31, Frankfurt, 2011
Stephen Kiprotich (UGA) 2:07:20, Enschede, 2011 @stephenkiproti1
José Manuel Martinez (ESP) 2:08:09, Rotterdam, 2003 @chemitamartinez
Yuki Kawauchi (JPN) 2:08:14, Seoul, 2013
Masato Imai (JPN) 2:10:29, Tokyo, 2013
Daniele Meucci (ITA) 2:13:49, Rome, 2010 @MeucciDaniele
Bob Tahri (FRA) Debut @bobtahri
Elite Women Marathon Personal Best Twitter Handle
Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:19:50, London, 2012
Priscah Jeptoo (KEN) 2:20:14, London, 2012
Jelena Prokopcuka (LVA) 2:22:56, Osaka, 2005
Firehiwot Dado (ETH) 2:23:15, New York, 2007
Buzunesh Deba (ETH) 2:23:19, New York 2011
Tetyana Gamera-Shmyrko (UKR) 2:23:58, Osaka, 2013
Risa Shigetomo (JPN) 2:23:23, Osaka, 2012
Christelle Daunay (FRA) 2:24:22, Paris, 2012
Kim Smith (NZL) 2:25:21, London, 2010 @Kimsmithnz
Ana Dulce Felix (POR) 2:25:40, New York, 2011
Lisa Stublic (CRO) 2:25:44, Zurich, 2013 @LisaStublic
Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) 2:26:21, Berlin, 2010 @RunningMocki
Adriana Da Silva (BRA) 2:29:17, Tokyo, 2012
Diane Nukuri-Johnson (BDI) 2:30:13, London, 2012 @dnjbdi
Yolanda Caballero (COL) 2:35:10, Boston, 2013 @YolandaAtleta
Nationally, the ING New York City Marathon will be presented on ESPN2 and
ESPN Deportes+ from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET. The race will also be
available via WatchESPN for those who have video subscriptions from
affiliated providers. Locally, New Yorkers can watch the race on ABC7 or
7online.com from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. or via WatchABC on mobile devices.
Additionally, a national highlights show will air from 4:00–6:00 p.m. on
ABC.
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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