FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mary Keitany Voted 2018 New York Road Runners Pro Performer of the Year
Four-time TCS New York City Marathon champion garners public vote after
recording second-fastest time in event history
New York, December 17, 2018 - Kenya's Mary Keitany was voted the 2018 New
York Road Runners Pro Performer of the Year by the public after recording
the second-fastest time in New York City Marathon history en route to her
fourth title, and winning her third NYRR New York Mini 10K. The NYRR Pro
Performer of the Year award recognizes the top athlete for his or her
outstanding achievements at NYRR races over the entire year.
"It's a great honor to win the NYRR Pro Performer of the Year award,"
Keitany said. "This one means a lot because it is the fans who choose. I
was pleased to win the TCS New York City Marathon and the NYRR New York
Mini 10K in 2018, and I look forward to continuing my success in NYC in the
future."
Keitany, 36, won her fourth TCS New York City Marathon title in November,
easily outpacing the field to finish in 2:22:49, just 17 seconds off the
course record. Her second-half split was faster than the U.S. half marathon
record of 1:07:25, and she now has the second-most New York City Marathon
victories in history in the women's open division after Grete Waitz.
Earlier in the year, Keitany won her third NYRR New York Mini 10K in a time
of 30:59, the fifth-fastest time in the event's 47-year history.
"By winning her fourth TCS New York City Marathon and third NYRR New York
Mini 10K this year, Mary Keitany put on a show for runners and viewers
around the world with her amazing performances on the roads in 2018," said
Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. "Mary is like
family to New York Road Runners, and we are extremely grateful to have one
of the greatest marathoners of all-time be such an inspiration to our
running community here in New York."
Keitany received 46.3 percent of the public vote, while U.S. wheelchair
racers Daniel Romanchuk and Susannah Scaroni came in second and third,
respectively, with 16.2 and 14.1 percent of the vote. Romanchuk became the
first American and youngest athlete ever to win the men's wheelchair
division at the TCS New York City Marathon, while Scaroni won the
first-ever wheelchair division race at the NYRR New York Mini 10K, breaking
the 10K world record in the process.
The other finalists for NYRR Pro Performer of the Year included: Buze
Diriba (ETH), Rhonex Kipruto (KEN), Jenny Simpson (USA), and Ben True
(USA).
The finalists were chosen based off their performances at the following
NYRR races in the NYRR Pro Racing Series: NYRR Wanamaker Mile, United
Airlines NYC Half, UAE Healthy Kidney 10K, NYRR New York Mini 10K, New
Balance 5th Avenue Mile, Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K and USATF 5K
Championships, and TCS New York City Marathon.
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
In 2018, NYRR is celebrating 60 years of helping and inspiring 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, community
events, free youth running initiatives, school programs, and training
resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from
children to seniors, 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 50,000 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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