FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Paula Radcliffe to Defend Title at ING New York City Marathon 2008
Marathon world record-holder seeks her third New York crown
New York, October 1, 2008—World record-holder Paula Radcliffe of Great
Britain will return to the streets of New York to defend her title at the
ING New York City Marathon 2008 on Sunday, November 2, it was announced
today by New York Road Runners president and CEO and race director Mary
Wittenberg.
A year ago Radcliffe, 34, amazed the world with an inspiring victory in New
York just 10 months after the birth of her first child, daughter Isla, on
January 17, 2007. She pulled away from Ethiopia's Gete Wami in the final
mile to capture the title in 2:23:09.
Unbeaten in New York, Radcliffe captured her first crown in 2004 in
dramatic fashion when she out-dueled Kenyan Susan Chepkemei by three
seconds in the closest women's finish in race history.
A third win would lift Radcliffe into second place for the most New York
victories, behind the legendary Grete Waitz of Norway, who amassed an
astounding nine New York City Marathon wins.
"We never stop being amazed by what Paula is able to do; she is the
all-time greatest, and New York always seems to bring out the best in her,"
Wittenberg said. "Paula's participation makes this our best women's field
ever."
Radcliffe returns seeking a bit of redemption at the 26.2-mile distance
following a disappointing performance in the women's marathon at the
Olympic Games. Injuries plagued Radcliffe's preparation for the race and
resulted in her 23rd-place finish (2:32:38).
"I am really looking forward to returning to the ING New York City
Marathon," said Radcliffe. "New York has always been very special to me and
every time I return it becomes more special. Grete Waitz has always been an
inspiration to me, and getting a small step closer to what she achieved in
New York City would be amazing to me."
Radcliffe owns the women's marathon world record of 2:15:25, which she set
in 2003 at the Flora London Marathon. Her marathon debut of 2:18:56, which
she ran in London in 2002, is still the fifth-fastest time in history. She
holds four of the five fastest women's marathon times in history, and has
won seven of the eight marathons she has finished, including three
victories in London, two in New York, one in Chicago, and one at the 2005
World Championships in Helsinki.
Radcliffe joins previously announced World Marathon Majors champion Wami,
2007 Boston champion Dire Tune of Ethiopia, and marathon first-timers New
Zealand Olympian Kim Smith and American Olympian Kara Goucher. The women's
race for the second World Marathon Majors crown and the $500,000 prize
purse will once again be determined in New York.
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