Where Your Dreams Become Reality
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Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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Hendrick Ramaala, Lornah Kiplagat, Martin Lel and Others Join ING NYC Marathon Field By David Monti (c) 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved Editor's Note: David Monti is the Elite Athlete Coordinator for the NY Marathon September 29, 2006 More international marathon stars were announced yesterday for the 37th edition of the ING New York City Marathon which will take place on Sunday, Nov. 5. Race organizers, the New York Road Runners, said that Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa; Martin Lel, Susan Chepkemei, Rita Jeptoo and Rodgers Rop of Kenya; Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia; Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil, Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands; and Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia had all been added to the race, bolstering an elite field which already features four of the six reigning Olympic Marathon medalists. "Hendrick, Martin, and Susan are all playmakers and have played leading roles in our storied marathon history," said Road Runners President and CEO, Mary Wittenberg, in a news release. "In a field of favorites, each is fully capable of winning on November 5." Ramaala, 34, who won the ING New York City Marathon in 2004, finished second by less than a meter in last year's race which was won by world record holder, Paul Tergat of Kenya. Ramaala, perhaps the world's best all around road racer, lowered his marathon personal best time to 2:06:55 when he finished third at the Flora London Marathon last April. Lel has victories at New York (2003) and London (2005), and was second at London this year in a career best 2:06:39, just two seconds behind race winner and compatriot, Felix Limo. Negussie, 26, won the BAA Boston Marathon in 2005 and has a personal best time of 2:08:16, while Rop, 33, has made the podium at New York three times, including a victory in 2002. He lowered his personal best time to 2:07:34 at London last April. Gomes dos Santos, 29, has a personal best time of 2:08:48 and should also contend for a place on the podium. On the women's side, Chepkemei boasts a 2:21:46 career best set at London last April where she finished second to U.S. record holder, Deena Kastor, who will also be lining up in New York. Chepkemei, 31, has finished second at New York three times (2005, 2004, 2001) and has been seventh, once. Jeptoo is the reigning BAA Boston Marathon champion with 2:23:28 personal best, while Kiplagat, the Dutch record holder, has run 2:22:22. Grigoryeva, who won the bronze medal at the European Championships in the 10,000m last August, won the City of Los Angeles Marathon last April in 2:25:10. ING New York City Marathon 2006 Announced Professional Fields (as of September 28, 2006): MEN - Marilson Gomes dos Santos, Brazil, 2:08:48 PB Hailu Negussie, Ethiopia, 2:08:16 Stefano Baldini, Italy, 2:07:22 Martin Lel, Kenya, 2:06:41 Tom Nyariki, Kenya, 2:21:51 Rodgers Rop, Kenya, 2:07:34 Paul Tergat, Kenya, 2:04:55 WR Hendrick Ramaala, South Africa, 2:06:35 Alan Culpepper, United States, 2:09:41 Matt Downin, United States, 2:14:28 Joe Driscoll, United States Matt Gabrielson, United States, debut Peter Gilmore, United States, 2:12:45 Meb Keflezighi, United States, 2:09:53 Dathan Ritzenhein, United States, debut WOMEN - Mara Yamauchi, Great Britain, 2:25:13 PB Susan Chepkemei, Kenya, 2:21:46 Rita Jeptoo, Kenya, 2:23:28 Catherine Ndereba, Kenya, 2:18:47 Jelena Prokopcuka, Latvia, 2:22:56 Lornah Kiplagat, Netherlands, 2:22:22 Lidiya Grigoryeva, Russia, 2:25:10 Deena Kastor, United States, 2:19:36 Katie McGregor, United States, debut
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Cross Country Spikes 10% off Injured?
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