FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Race Results Weekly To Wind Down Professional Athletes Consulting Practice
The Wire Service of Distance Running Will Refocus On
Results Distribution & Event Coverage
NEW YORK (13-Jan) -- After 137 events over nearly 19 years which
encompassed over 2000 of the world's top runners, Race Results Weekly Inc.
(RRW) will be winding down its professional athletes consulting practice
with New York Road Runners (NYRR) in March, 2020. The final event for
which the company will provide professional athletes consulting services
for what is the world's top organizer of running events will be the United
Airlines NYC Half on Sunday, March 15.
"After 19 wonderful years Jane and I have decided to step back from
recruiting and managing professional athletes on behalf of our beloved
client, New York Road Runners," said David Monti, Editor & Publisher,
referring to his wife and business partner Jane Monti. "We were incredibly
fortunate to be able to grow with NYRR and are very proud of the work we
have done. Now it's time for us to refocus our company on its media
activities."
RRW's partnership with NYRR began in 2001 when the fledgling company was
tapped by then NYRR co-chiefs Allan Steinfeld and Mary Wittenberg to
recruit the top athletes for the NYRR New York Mini 10-K, the world's
oldest and most prestigious all-women's road race. Britain's Paula
Radcliffe blitzed the course in 30:47, then the second-fastest time in
history, and RRW was then given the responsibility of building the field
for the New York City Marathon in November.
After the attacks of 9/11 RRW, worked with NYRR to assemble a top-caliber
elite field, despite the challenges and destruction which faced the city.
With the NYC Marathon hosting the USA Marathon Championships and Deena
Drossin (now Kastor) making her marathon debut, the race was hugely
successful and helped the city to heal. Course records were set by Tesfaye
Jifar of Ethiopia (2:07:43) and Margaret Okayo of Kenya (2:24:21).
"We never thought we'd make it through that first marathon," said Jane
Monti. "We were emotionally overwhelmed 24/7, but we knew that the
athletes were counting on us. After helping to stage that race
successfully, we knew we had found our calling."
After that, NYRR expanded its slate of pro athlete events, and RRW helped
launch the UAE Healthy Kidney 10-K (2005), United Airlines NYC Half (2006),
USATF 8-K Championships (2002), and supported the comebacks of the NYRR
Millrose Games (2012) and New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile (2005).
"Helping the Fifth Avenue Mile get back to a top-level event in 2005 was
one of our greatest accomplishments," said Jane Monti who specialized in
organizing athlete hospitality. "It was incredible to see such an iconic
event return to a very high level where it remains today."
Among the top athletes RRW was entrusted to recruit and manage included
Ethiopians Haile Gebrselassie and Gete Wami; Kenyans Paul Tergat and Mary
Keitany; Dutchwoman Lornah Kiplagat; Irishwoman Sonia O'Sullivan; Briton
Paula Radcliffe; and Americans Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher, Deena
Kastor, Meb Keflezighi, Bernard Lagat, Jenny Simpson, and Alan Webb.. Both
of the Montis were on the finish line when Keflezighi and Flanagan won the
TCS New York City Marathon in 2009 and 2017, respectively.
"To be able to work so closely with such wonderful athletes was an honor
and a privilege," said David Monti. "We have incredible memories that will
last a lifetime."
Moving ahead, RRW will refocus its efforts on its media business:
publishing Race Results Weekly 50 Mondays a year, providing syndicated
event coverage via the RRW Wire service, releasing original athlete feature
stories and photos, assisting broadcasters with running event coverage, and
providing media services for selected events.
"We have a lot of work ahead, especially in an Olympic year," said Jane
Monti who is also the company's photographer.
RRW would like to thank everyone at NYRR for their kind support and
respect, especially President & CEO, Michael Capiraso; SVP of Media, Public
Relations & Professional Athletics, Chris Weiller; Director of Professional
Athletes, Sam Grotewold; and SVP of Event Development & Production and TCS
New York City Marathon Race Director, Jim Heim.
"We look forward to covering NYRR events, of course," said David Monti.
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