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London Champ Martin Lel, London Runner Up Goumri To Race at 2007 ING NYC Marathon
Watch Lel Win the Incredible
"What a stellar nucleus to our men's
field: four former champions and the reigning gold and silver medalists
from New York and London," said race director Mary Wittenberg, the
president and CEO of New York Road Runners. "Each man is good enough
to win here in 2007."Sprint Finish in London This Year (Final Quarter Mile of Race) Lel, who sits in second position in the 2006/2007 World Marathon Majors leaderboard with 40 points, already has an ING New York City Marathon title under his belt from 2003, and has won the Flora London Marathon twice, in 2005 and 2007. Injuries kept him out of New York the last two years, but his 2:07:41 clocking in London last April where he won in a thrilling sprint finish demonstrated that the 28 year-old Kenyan should be ready to challenge for another NYC title. Rop was a surprise New York winner in
2002, running one of the fastest times ever for New York's challenging
course: 2:08:07. He was also third in 2001 and second in 2003. After
that, the 31 year-old's career seemed to be heading off track with a
few lackluster performances. But, in 2006, he ran a 2:07:34 personal
best in London, good for sixth place, then won Hamburg last April in
yet another personal best of 2:07:32. There's big money on the
line at New York, which has the highest prize money payout of any of
the Majors. The men's and women's winners will each receive $130,000
in cash plus a Toyota Prius hybrid which, according to the website Edmunds.com,
is valued at $22,175. Athletes are also eligible for significant time
bonuses. Gomes dos Santos earned $155,000 in prize money and time
incentives last year, plus a car. Editor's Note: David Monti is the Elite Athlete Coordinator for the NYC Marathon
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