FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
American Marathon Hero Meb Keflezighi and Tennis Star Caroline Wozniacki of
Denmark to Run 2014 TCS New York City Marathon as
New York Road Runners Team for Kids Ambassadors
Reigning Boston Marathon and 2009 New York City Marathon Champion to
Headline Pro Men's Field on November 2
Former Number One Women's Tennis Player in the World to Prepare for
26.2-mile Road Race While Continuing to Compete on the Court
New York, July 31, 2014-Meb Keflezighi, the 2014 Boston Marathon champion
and winner of the 2009 New York City Marathon, and Caroline Wozniacki,
formerly the top-ranked player in the world and winner of the recent
Istanbul Cup, will run as Team for Kids Ambassadors at the 2014 TCS New
York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2, 2014, it was announced today by
Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners.
"We're excited to welcome two of the world's top athletes to the 2014 TCS
New York City Marathon as Team for Kids Ambassadors," said Wittenberg.
"Both Meb, who is the ultimate example of the American Dream, and Caroline,
who has reached the pinnacle of the tennis world, will transcend their
roles as professional athletes by representing the hundreds of thousands of
young people who benefit from NYRR's free youth running programs and
initiatives. Meb will highlight a world-class field of athletes competing
for the marathon title, while Caroline will join thousands of runners
raising critical funds for worthy charities. They'll serve as inspirations
to the 50,000 runners and millions of fans lining the streets of the City's
five boroughs and watching the race broadcast around the world."
Keflezighi, 39, of San Diego, CA, lengthened his remarkable stay atop the
U.S. marathon rankings with a victory at the 2014 Boston Marathon, becoming
the first American man to win the race since Greg Meyer in 1983. Similarly,
in 2009, he became the first American since Alberto Salazar in 1982 to win
the New York City Marathon. Keflezighi's sixth-place finish in 2011 was his
sixth top-10 finish at the race.
"I am excited to be running the TCS New York City Marathon for the ninth
time. This is a very special race and city for me," Keflezighi said.
"Additionally, I am honored to be a Team for Kids Ambassador and raise
funds for the MEB Foundation."
A three-time Olympian, Keflezighi captured the silver medal at the 2004
Athens Olympic Marathon and took fourth place in the 2012 London Olympic
Marathon, the only top-five performances by an American man in the event
since Frank Shorter's silver-medal performance in 1976. Keflezighi, a
former American record-holder at 10,000 meters, has won more than 20
national championships in track and field, cross country, and road racing.
Wozniacki, 24, of Odense, Denmark, captured the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul
Cup on July 20; it was her 22nd WTA title. She held the number-one spot in
the WTA rankings for 67 weeks during 2010 and 2011, after qualifying for
her first Grand Slam tournament final at the 2009 U.S. Open. In June of
2009, Wozniacki became the first Danish player in history to rank among the
world's top 30 women. A two-time Olympian, she was the 2006 Wimbledon
junior singles champion. Wozniacki is currently ranked number 13 in the
world by the WTA and will be competing in the 2014 U.S. Open, which will
begin on August 25. The TCS New York City Marathon will be her road-racing
debut.
"I can't wait to trade my tennis racquet for a pair of running shoes and
take part in the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon as a New York Road Runners
Team for Kids Ambassador," said Wozniacki. "I grew up in a family where
sports were a huge part of our lives, and I learned from a young age the
importance of being active. That's why running for Team for Kids is so
important to me. When I cross the finish line in Central Park, it will be
one of the most rewarding days of my life, not only because of the personal
accomplishment, but also because it will help thousands of kids to get
healthy and fit through sports."
As Team for Kids Ambassadors, Keflezighi and Wozniacki will support and
raise funds for the NYRR Team for Kids charity running team. Team for Kids
is a committed group of adult runners from around the world who add meaning
to their miles by raising funds for youth running programs for kids who
would otherwise have little or no access to regular physical activity.
These programs serve more than 200,000 schoolchildren in New York City's
five boroughs and around the country. Both athletes will participate in
Team for Kids activities during race week and will represent more than
1,700 Team for Kids runners, who will raise an estimated $4.5 million on
race day.
Keflezighi and Wozniacki will raise funds for Team for Kids by using NYRR's
partner fundraising platform, CrowdRise. In addition to donating to Team
for Kids, Keflezighi's fans can also choose to donate to The MEB
Foundation, which empowers youth and their families to "Maintain Excellent
Balance" by providing the tools and resources needed to lead healthy
lifestyles.
Donations to Team for Kids on behalf of Wozniacki's run can be made at
www.crowdrise.com/carolinew.
Donations to Team for Kids and to The MEB Foundation on behalf of
Keflezighi's run can be made at www.crowdrise.com/meb.
Keflezighi and Wozniacki can be followed on twitter at @runmeb and
@CaroWozniacki, respectively.
Approximately 300 official charity partner organizations and more than
7,000 charity runners are expected to raise over $25 million in donations
while participating in the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon.
The TCS New York City Marathon will be televised live nationally on ESPN2
and ESPN Deportes+ from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST. For those who have
video subscriptions with affiliated providers, the race will also be
available via WatchESPN. The race will be broadcast live in the New York
City metropolitan area on WABC-TV from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST. Viewers
can also watch the race on 7online or via WatchABC on mobile devices (for
participating cable providers). Pre-race features from the start at Fort
Wadsworth will be broadcast live at 7:00 a.m. on WABC-TV, 7online.com, and
WatchABC, and a national highlights show will air from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on
local ABC affiliates. International viewers can watch the broadcast via a
live digital stream from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST on 7online.com or via a
variety of global broadcast partners (international viewers should check
local listings).
Last year, 50,266 runners crossed the finish line of the New York City
Marathon, making it the world's largest marathon ever. Runners from more
than 100 countries and each of the 50 states participated. The male and
female winners were both from Kenya: Geoffrey Mutai, who became a two-time
reigning champion, and Priscah Jeptoo, who came from more than a half-mile
behind to take the lead in the race's final three miles.
About the TCS New York City Marathon
The TCS New York City Marathon is the most popular and inclusive marathon
in the world, attracting the world's top professional athletes and a vast
range of recreational runners. The race began in 1970 with just 127
entrants racing four laps of Central Park. Today, an estimated 50,000
runners from around the world tour New York City's five boroughs, starting
on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and finishing
in Central Park. Participants include Olympians, Paralympians, wheelchair
racers, top age-group competitors, and many thousands who run for charity
and to achieve their own personal goals. Millions of fans cheer the runners
from the streets and watch the global television broadcast. The race is
part of the World Marathon Majors, an alliance of the world's six biggest
marathons that determines each year's top male and top female marathoner.
The TCS New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road
Runners, the world's foremost community running organization, whose mission
is to help and inspire people through running. Tata Consultancy Services, a
leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions
organization, is the Premier Partner of NYRR and is in its inaugural year
as title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon.
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