Dathan Ritzenhein, Deena Kastor, Matt Tegenkamp, Sally Kipyego Running Inaugural NYRR Dash to the Finish Line November 5

By NYRR.org
October 12, 2012

New York, October 12, 2011—The inaugural NYRR Dash to the Finish Line will draw some big names, including Olympians Deena Kastor and Dathan Ritzenhein on Saturday, November 5, during ING New York City Marathon weekend, it was announced today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.  

To be held the day before the ING New York City Marathon, the race will offer a flat and fast 3.1-mile course through the heart of Manhattan, starting near the United Nations, crossing Midtown on famed 42nd Street, and heading uptown to Central Park for the last dash across the world-renowned ING New York City Marathon finish line. All runners are invited, and the race is a key element in New York Road Runners’ strategy of opening up the weekend festivities to more people.

Kastor will be joined by previously announced American 5000-meter record-holder Molly Huddle, as well as Magdalena Lewy Boulet, who was the runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials, and 2011 World Championships 10,000-meter silver medalist Sally Kipyego of Kenya. Ritzenhein will also be in good company: 2008 Olympians Matt Tegenkamp and Lopez Lomong and two-time USA champion Ben True are all entered. 

“The Dash to the Finish Line is just one more way for everyone to get involved in marathon weekend,” said Wittenberg. “From Opening Ceremonies, to the Dash to the Finish Line, and the Mobile Spectator App, there are so many ways to get involved even if you aren’t running. And to top it off, there is the bonus of running across our famed marathon finish line with so many of our talented athletes in this fast, fun 5K.” 

Kastor, 38, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, is the American marathon record-holder (2:19:36, London, 2006). She earned the bronze medal in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics. After the birth of her first child in February, Kastor began a comeback to racing at the NYRR New York Mini 10K in June. She recently won the Rock ’n’ Roll San Jose Half-Marathon in 1:12:23. 

“I'm excited to be a part of the inaugural NYRR Dash to the Finish Line,” said Kastor. “This race is one more reason to get excited about ING New York City Marathon weekend.  As I continue my focus and training for the Olympic Trials marathon in January, this race will certainly be a ‘dash’ for me, but it’s another way to enjoy marathon week in New York City.”   

Ritzenhein, 28, of Portland, OR, hasn’t raced since last year’s ING New York City Marathon, when he finished eighth in 2:12:33. The two-time Olympian is back training after a series of injuries earlier in the year. The NYRR Dash to the Finish Line will be Ritzenhein’s first competitive race in his buildup to the Olympic Trials marathon in January. 

“I’m very excited to be returning to action at the NYRR Dash to the Finish Line,” said Ritzenhein. “This is a great first step for me to making the 2012 Olympic team and putting the past year behind me. After a full year off from racing, I can’t think of a better place to make my return. I’ve had great comebacks in New York in the past and can’t wait to do it again. Putting on my racing shoes once again on the streets of New York is the best way for me to set my sights on making a third Olympic team.” 

Lewy Boulet, 38, of Oakland, CA, won the Falmouth Road Race in August, and she set personal bests at 5000 and 10,000 meters this summer. A native of Poland, Lewy Boulet was part of the USA team that took the bronze medal at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. 

Kipyego, 25, of Kenya, attended Texas Tech University, where she was an NCAA standout, equaling the record for most individual NCAA championships in history. She was the 2011World Championships silver medalist at 10,000 meters in Daegu, South Korea. Most recently, she finished second at the NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile in a time of 4:22.6, three-tenths of a second behind winner Jenny Simpson of the USA. 

Tegenkamp, 29, of Portland, OR, competed in his first Olympics in 2008 and hopes to represent the USA again in 2012. He recently competed in the 10,000 meters at the 2011World Championships, and he is one of only five U.S. men to have run under 13 minutes for 5000 meters. 

Lomong, 26, of Beaverton, OR, is a two-time USA champion at 1500 meters, and he represented the U.S. in that event at the 2008 Olympic Games. Lomong resettled in the United States after escaping captivity in Sudan, and he became a citizen in 2007, one year before being selected as the flag bearer for Team USA during the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremonies. 

True, 25, of Hanover, NH, has been on a tear in 2011, finishing as the top American at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships before winning the BAA 5K (during Boston Marathon weekend), the USA 10K Championship, and the USA 5K Championship. He also finished second at the USA 15K and 10-Mile Championships. True is part of the In the Arena training group in New Hampshire.

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