INJURIES FORCE CHERUIYOT, LEL OUT OF ING NYC MARATHON

By David Monti
(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

NEW YORK (12-Oct) -- Kenyan marathon stars Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Martin Lel were forced to scratch from the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 7, organizers announced today.  Cheruiyot had been battling a groin injury while Lel had problems with one of his legs.

Cheruiyot, 32, and Lel, 31, have been two of marathon running's most significant players over the last decade.  Cheruiyot won the Boston Marathon four times and was the course record holder there until last April when the younger Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot broke his four year-old mark.  Cheruiyot was also the Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion in 2006 when he famously slipped on a wet finish line decal at the finish, sliding to a five-second victory over compatriot Daniel Njenga.  Cheruiyot was the first man ever to win the Boston and Chicago Marathons in the same year, and finished second at the marathon here last year.  Lel won the ING New York City Marathon in 2003 and 2007, and was the Virgin London Marathon champion in 2005, 2007 and 2008.  He was the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships gold medallist in 2003, and finished fifth in the Beijing Olympic Marathon.

Federico Rosa, an Italian who manages both athletes, informed ING New York City Marathon officials in Chicago last Friday the Cheruiyot and Lel were both out.  However, he confirmed the participation of James Kwambai, the third-fastest marathoner of all-time with a 2:04:27 personal best.

Race director Mary Wittenberg, the New York Road Runners president and CEO, still has a very strong men's field for the 41st edition of her race.  World record holder Haile Gebreselassie of Ethiopia is just one of 11 athletes who have broken two hours and eight minutes during their careers, including seven who have broken 2:07.  American Meb Keflezighi of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., will be defending his 2009 title, the first by an American man in New York in 27 years.

The ING New York City Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors series and features an $800,000 prize money purse.

ENDS

  NOTE: Race Results Weekly provides professional athlete consulting to the ING New York City Marathon and the New York Road Runners --Ed.

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