World's Second Fastest Marathoners - Wilson Kipsang & Moses Mosop - Added To 2012 ING NYC Marathon Field
2010 ING NYC Champ Gebre Gebremariam Also Will Compete
LetsRun.com
September 18, 2012
Today the New York Road Runners announced that the second fastest marathoner in history officially and unofficially in Wilson Kipsang and Moses Mosop of Kenya have been added to the 2012 ING New York City Marathon field. Kipsang, who won the 2012 Virgin London marathon this spring before getting the bronze medal at the Olympics, ran 2:03:42 in Frankfurt last year to become the second fastest man on a records eligible course. Mosop, who set the 25,000 (1:12:25.0h) and 30,000 (1:26:47.40) world records on the track last year at the Pre Classic, ran 2:03:06 on the non-record eligible Boston course in 2011.
Ethiopia's Gebre Gebremariam, who won the ING New York City Marathon in 2010, has also been added to the field.
The addition of Kipsang and Mosop really increases the quality of the men's field in New York as they are two of the giants in world of marathoning. The fact that Mosop is running New York is a bit surprising as he's the reigning Chicago champion where he set the course record last year. But it's no longer a given that the defending champion will come back to a major as last year's New York winner, Geoffrey Mutai, is running the BMW Berlin marathon September 30th.
Given Kipsang's win in London, which is regarded as the world's most competitive professional marathon, and his 2:03:42 time from last year, Kipsang was regarded in our minds as the #1 marathoner on the planet heading into the Olympics. And he ran like it as he boldly bolted to the lead with a crazy fast third 5k of 14:11 which ended up being too much for even him to handle as he had to settle for the bronze. Will Kipsang be a little more patient this time in New York? Remember, there are no rabbits in New York just like in the Olympics.
The 30-year old Kipsang only started running marathons in 2008. He's run six and won four of them, once in 2:03, twice in 2:04, and once in 2:06. As a result, he is the favorite.
If Kipsang is the favorite, then the 27-year old Mosop is a close #2 pick as he was brilliant in 2011. He followed up his 2:03:06 marathon debut in Boston, with the 25,000 and 30,000 world records on the track at the Pre Classic. After those races, coach Renato Canova said he thought a 2:02 marathon was possible for Mosop. Mosop then went to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and set a new course record at 2:05:37 - even though it was claimed he was running at only 80-85% fitness.
This year hasn't gone as well for Mosop as in his only marathon in Rotterdam, which was hyped as world record attempt, Mosop didn't even get the win as he was just third in 2:05:06.
Previously announced runners for the mens race include three-time U.S. Olympian and 2009 ING New York City Marathon champion Meb Keflezighi, four-time USA Olympian Abdi Abdirahman, 2012 Boston Marathon fourth-placer Jason Hartmann, and 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials fifth-placer Brett Gotcher.
Undoubtedly, there will be other foreign runners in the race as a race of New York's caliber has to have more than three African runners on the start line.
One person not mentioned in the ING New York City marathon press release, but who has publicly stated he is running the race, is Kenya's Stanley Biwott. Biwott has been running on fire in 2012. The 27-year old Biwott lowered his marathon PR from 2:07:03 to 2:05:12 when he won in Paris in April. He's followed that up with wins at the prestigious Beach to Beacon and Falmouth road races. Then just last weekend, he took the Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon title as well.
When the full field is release, we're sure it will be another exciting Sunday in November on the streets of New York. And fortunately for the first time in ages, American can watch it live on TV (see below).
More NYC: Olympic Tiki Gelana To Face Edna Kiplagat and Sharon Cherop
****More from the NYRR Press Release:
Nationally, the telecast will be available on ESPN2, online at WatchESPN.com, andfor fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provideron smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app. Locally, New Yorkers can watch the race on WABC-TV and 7online.com.
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Kipsang, 30, of Kenya, took bronze in the 2012 Olympic Games mens marathon and is the 2012 Virgin London Marathon champion. His marathon best of 2:03:42, set at the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon, makes him the second-fastest marathoner of all-time behind world record-holder and Kenyan countryman Patrick Makau, who ran 2:03:38 last year in the BMW Berlin Marathon. This will be his ING New York City Marathon debut.
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Mosop, 26, of Kenya, is the reigning Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion and the world record-holder for both 25,000 and 30,000 meters on the track. He clocked an unbelievable 2:03:06 at the 2011 Boston Marathon, the second-fastest time ever recorded on any marathon course. This will be his ING New York City marathon debut.
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Gebremariam, 28, of Ethiopia, made his marathon debut at the 2010 New York City Marathon and won the race in a time of 2:08:14. He was third at the Boston Marathon in 2011 with a personal best of 2:04:53. The two-time Olympian has won four individual medals at the World Cross Country Championships, including gold in 2009.
More NYC: Olympic Tiki Gelana To Face Edna Kiplagat and Sharon Cherop
From the LRC Archives:
*A Look at Wilson Kipsang - The 2012 Virgin London Marathon Champion
*The Unheralded Stephen Kiprotich Of Uganda Stuns The Field And Wins The 2012 Olympic Men's Marathon
*2011 ING New York City Marathon MeMen's Race Recap: Geoffrey Mutai Caps Year In Style
*2010 ING NYC Marathon: Geb Wins & Geb Retires
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