FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Olympic Champion Peres Jepchirchir, Olympic Silver Medalist Abdi Nageeye,
and Four-Time Olympic Medalist Kenenisa Bekele to Join Star-Studded
Professional Athlete Field at TCS New York City Marathon on November 7
Olympian Jared Ward and United Airlines NYC Half champion Ben True to lead
American men in the open division
Daniel Romanchuk and Manuela Schär will aim to defend wheelchair division
titles
New York, August 19, 2021 - Olympic gold medalist Peres Jepchirchir of
Kenya, Olympic silver medalist Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, and
four-time Olympic medalist Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia will make their TCS
New York City Marathon debuts on Sunday, November 7, joining a star-studded
professional athlete lineup for the event's 50th running.
Women's Open Division
Jepchirchir won gold at the Tokyo Olympic Marathon this month in 2:27:20
and is a two-time world champion in the half marathon, having won gold at
the 2020 and 2016 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships. Last year,
she joined the legendary trio of Tegla Loroupe, Paula Radcliffe and Lornah
Kiplagat as the only women to win more than one half marathon world title.
Her personal-best marathon time of 2:17:16 is the fastest of any woman in
the TCS New York City Marathon open division.
"2021 has already been a magical year, and I am excited that it is not yet
over," Jepchirchir said. "I am happy about competing in the TCS New York
City Marathon. The excitement in Kenya around my performance in the Olympic
Games has been very high, and I know that a victory in New York will mean
so much to the people of Kenya. The 50th year of something is often called
its 'golden anniversary,' so how fitting it will be that for New York
City's 50th running I will run as the Olympic gold medalist."
Challenging Jepchirchir on the international front will be Namibia's
four-time Olympian and 2019 World Championships bronze medalist Helalia
Johannes, who was 11th in the Tokyo Olympic Marathon, and Ethiopia's Ruti
Aga, who won the Tokyo Marathon and finished third at the TCS New York City
Marathon in 2019. Ethiopia's mixed-gender world-record holder and the 2019
Chicago Marathon runner-up Ababel Yeshaneh and Kenya's Nancy Kiprop, the
fourth place-finisher at the event in 2019, will also toe the line.
Greece's 10,000-meter record-holder Alexi Pappas and Kenya's Viola Cheptoo,
the sister of five-time Olympian Bernard Lagat, will make their New York
debuts.
They will join the previously announced group of American women that
includes Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel, 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon
Trials champion Aliphine Tuliamuk, 2012 Olympic silver medalist Sally
Kipyego, 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000 meters champion Emily Sisson, and
2018 Boston Marathon winner and two-time Olympian Des Linden.
Men's Open Division
Nageeye won the silver medal at the Olympic marathon in Tokyo this year,
crossing the line in 2:09:58. The Somali-born Dutch runner was 11th at the
Rio 2016 Olympic marathon and has finished in the top-10 at the Boston
Marathon twice. He holds national records in both the marathon and half
marathon.
"For me, winning the silver medal in the Olympic Games was not a surprise,"
Nageeye said. "There were many good athletes in the race, but I knew my
preparation had been good. I was ready for the conditions, and most
importantly I believed in myself. I will take that same focus into my
preparations for New York, and my belief and confidence in my abilities is
even higher than it was in Sapporo. There is nothing I want more than to
bring a New York City victory back home along with my Olympic medal."
Bekele is a four-time Olympic medalist and 16-time world champion who will
make his debut in the men's open division. At the Athens 2004 Games, he won
gold in the 10,000 and silver in the 5,000, and four years later in Beijing
took gold in both distances. He won the 2019 Berlin Marathon in the
second-fastest time ever, only two seconds off the world-record time set by
Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin the year prior.
"I am proud of the many accomplishments in my career, but I have never had
the opportunity to compete in the TCS New York City Marathon," Bekele said.
"I am excited that 2021 will be the year for me to make my attempt in New
York. Some of my greatest success has come in cross-country running, and I
am told that the hills and turns of New York reward athletes with the
strength that comes from running cross-country. I will do my best to join
that great list of New York City champions."
Leading the American men will be Rio 2016 Olympian Jared Ward, who has
finished as the top American in the last two TCS New York City Marathons,
and 2018 United Airlines NYC Half winner and six-time national champion Ben
True, who will be making his marathon debut.
Both Kenya's Kibiwott Kandie and Great Britain's Callum Hawkins will also
make their TCS New York City Marathon debuts. Kandie is the half marathon
world-record holder and a 2020 World Half Marathon Championships silver
medalist, and he will be covering the 26.2-mile distance for the first time
in his career. Hawkins is a two-time Olympian who finished fourth at both
the 2019 and 2017 World Championships in the marathon.
The 2019 TCS New York City Marathon second and third-place finishers,
Kenya's Albert Korir and Ethiopia's Girma Bekele Gebre will return in
attempt to repeat their podium performances, in addition to 2016 race
winner Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea.
Men's Wheelchair Division
Romanchuk, a two-time U.S. Paralympian, will race for his third consecutive
TCS New York City Marathon title after becoming the youngest athlete ever
and first men's American wheelchair racer to win the event in 2018 and
repeating his effort in 2019.
"I can't wait to hit the start line on the Verrazzano for the 50th running
of the TCS New York City Marathon," Romanchuk said. "The hunt for the
finish tape will be fierce, but I know we'll all be joining together
celebrating the return to racing through the boroughs."
Switzerland's Marcel Hug will try to earn back his title after winning
previously in 2013, 2016 and 2017. He is an eight-time Paralympic medalist
who finished as runner-up in the last two editions of the event.
South Africa's eight-time Paralympic medalist and 10-time Boston Marathon
champion Ernst van Dyk, who won in 2005 and 2015, and Great Britain's
10-time Paralympic medalist and eight-time London Marathon champion David
Weir, who won in 2010, will look to add to their titles.
American Aaron Pike will race New York between competing at the Tokyo
Paralympics and Beijing Paralympics in track and Nordic skiing, going for
his first podium appearance after finishing fourth in 2019.
Women's Wheelchair Division
Schär, a three-time Paralympic medalist, will try to follow Tatyana
McFadden in becoming only the second woman to win four consecutive titles
in the women's wheelchair division. In 2019, she completed the five-borough
course in 1:44:20, the second-fastest time in history, to grab her ninth
consecutive Abbott World Marathon Majors race title.
In addition to 2020 London Marathon champion Nikita den Boer of the
Netherlands, Schär will face stiff competition from the previously
announced trio of Americans, five-time champion and 17-time Paralympic
medalist McFadden, two-time champion and seven-time Paralympic medalist
Amanda McGrory and three-time Mastercard New York Mini 10K champion
Susannah Scaroni.
The 2021 TCS New York City Marathon women's professional athlete field is
presented by Mastercard.
The 2021 TCS New York City Marathon will be televised live on Sunday,
November 7, on WABC-TV Channel 7 in the New York tristate area, throughout
the rest of the nation on ESPN2, and around the world by various
international broadcasters.
Professional Athlete Field - Men's Open Division
Name Residence Personal Best
Alvaro Abreu Dominican Republic 2:19:15
Ryan Archer New York, N.Y. 2:17:51
Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia 2:01:41
Girma Bekele Gebre Ethiopia 2:08:23
Shadrack Biwott Folsom, Calif. 2:12:01
Patricio Castillo Flushing, N.Y. (Mexico) 2:11:24
Augustine Choge Kenya Debut
Birhanu Dare New York, N.Y. (Ethiopia) 2:12:21
Noah Droddy Boulder, Colo. 2:09:09
Mohamed El Aaraby* Morocco 2:09:16
Eyob Faniel* Italy 2:07:19
Ghirmay Ghebreslassie Eritrea 2:07:11
Temesgen Habtemariam New York, N.Y. (Ethiopia) 2:11:42
Callum Hawkins* Great Britain 2:08:14
Kibiwott Kandie Kenya Debut
Abu Kebede New York, N.Y. (Ethiopia) 2:24:30
Urgesa Kedir New York, N.Y. (Ethiopia) 2:12:20
Abdulmenan Kasim New York, N.Y. (Ethiopia) 2:23:08
Elkanah Kibet Colorado Springs, Colo. 2:11:31
Albert Korir Kenya 2:08:03
Kevin Lewis Richfield, Minn. 2:12:02
Matt Llano Flagstaff, Ariz. 2:11:14
Brendan Martin New York, N.Y. 2:15:30
Nathan Martin Jackson, Mich. 2:11:05
Teshome Mekonen New York, N.Y. (Ethiopia) Debut
Abdi Nageeye* Netherlands 2:06:17
Thijs Nijhuis* Denmark 2:10:57
Benjamin Preisner* Canada 2:10:17
John Raneri Flagstaff, Ariz. 2:13:57
Jose Santana* Mexico 2:10:54
Brian Shrader Boston, Mass. 2:13:27
Thomas Slattery Bronx, N.Y. 2:18:35
Joe Stilin New York, N.Y. 2:17:15
Akira Tomiyasu Japan 2:10:29
Ben True Lebanon, N.H. Debut
Ryan Vail Portland, Ore. 2:10:57
Jared Ward Mapleville, Utah 2:09:25
Professional Athlete Field - Women's Open Division
Name Residence Personal Best
Ruti Aga Ethiopia 2:18:34
Meseret Ali Bronx, N.Y. (Ethiopia) 2:40:41
Aileen Barry Manhasset, N.Y. 2:44:51
Obsie Birru Phoenix, Ariz. 2:35:51
Molly Bookmyer Columbus, Ohio 2:44:07
Grace Bowen New York, N.Y. 2:44:49
Stephanie Bruce Flagstaff, Ariz. 2:27:47
Marie-Ange Brumelot Shokan, N.Y. (France) 2:36:23
Viola Cheptoo Kenya Debut
Jessica Chichester Brooklyn, N.Y. 2:42:16
Krista Duchene Canada 2:28:32
Annie Frisbie Minneapolis, Minn. Debut
Bose Gemeda New York, N.Y. (Ethiopia) 2:39:04
Rebecca Gentry Brooklyn, N.Y. (Great Britain) 2:32:01
Roberta Groner Ledgewood, N.J. 2:29:09
Kate Gustafson Brooklyn, N.Y. (Canada) 2:40:06
Rachel Hannah Canada 2:32:09
Peres Jepchirchir* Kenya 2:17:16
Helalia Johannes* Namibia 2:19:52
Ana Johnson New York, N.Y. 2:43:11
Grace Kahura Longmont, Colo. (Kenya) 2:33:34
Emma Kertesz Boulder, Colo. 2:40:56
Nancy Kiprop Kenya 2:22:12
Sally Kipyego* Eugene, Ore. 2:25:10
Des Linden Charlevoix, Mich. 2:22:28
Hanna Lindholm Sweden 2:28:59
Andrea Ramirez Limon* Mexico 2:26:34
Ziyang Liu Kirkland, Wash. (China) 2:40:17
Lanni Marchant Denver, Colo. (Canada) 2:28:00
Ivette Mejia New York, N.Y. 2:38:23
Makenna Myler Highland, Utah Debut
Alexi Pappas Woodland Hills, Calif. (Greece) 2:34:26
Beverly Ramos Puerto Rico 2:32:43
Samantha Roecker Philadelphia, Pa. 2:29:59
Lindsey Scherf White Plains, N.Y. 2:32:19
Molly Seidel* Flagstaff, Ariz. 2:25:13
Leigh Anne Sharek Brooklyn, N.Y. 2:42:02
Emily Sisson* Phoenix, Ariz. 2:23:08
Kellyn Taylor Flagstaff, Ariz. 2:24:29
Joanna Thompson New York, N.Y. 2:43:01
Laura Thweatt Superior, Colo. 2:25:38
Aliphine Tuliamuk* Flagstaff, Ariz. 2:26:50
Haruka Yamaguchi Japan 2:26:35
Ababel Yeshaneh Ethiopia 2:20:51
Professional Athlete Field - Men's Wheelchair Division
Name Residence Personal Best
Fidel Aguilar Mesa, Ariz. 1:29:13
Rafael Botello Spain 1:22:09
Christian Clemmons Champaign, Ill. 1:38:08
Josh George* Champaign, Ill. 1:21:47
Marcel Hug* Switzerland 1:18:04
Brent Lakatos* Canada 1:29:41
Simon Lawson Great Britain 1:25:06
Patrick Monahan Ireland 1:22:23
Aaron Pike* Champaign, Ill. 1:20:59
Daniel Romanchuk* Champaign, Ill. 1:21:36
Brian Siemann* Champaign, Ill. 1:26:46
John Smith* Great Britain 1:29:44
Ernst van Dyk* South Africa 1:18:04
David Weir* Great Britain 1:26:17
Sho Watanabe* Japan 1:26:22
Professional Athlete Field - Women's Wheelchair Division
Name Residence Personal Best
Christie Dawes* Australia 1:37:12
Vanessa de Souza Brazil 1:45:19
Nikita den Boer* Netherlands 1:40:07
Jenna Fesemyer* Champaign, Ill. 1:37:02
Yen Hoang* Champaign, Ill. 2:01:06
Tatyana McFadden* Champaign, Ill. 1:31:30
Amanda McGrory* Savoy, Ill. 1:33:13
Arielle Rausin New York, N.Y. 1:40:51
Susannah Scaroni* Champaign, Ill. 1:30:42
Manuela Schär* Switzerland 1:28:17
Margriet van den Broek Netherlands 1:38:33
Michelle Wheeler Boalsburg, Pa. 1:45:55
Shelly Woods Great Britain 1:37:44
*indicate Tokyo Olympian/Paralympian
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
NYRR's mission is to help and inspire 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, virtual races, community events, free
youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring
the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of
thousands of people each year 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 a wide population of 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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