FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Olympians Meb Keflezighi and Abdi Abdirahman Headline List of American
Standouts in the ING New York City Marathon 2009
Olympian Jorge Torres to make marathon debut
Jason Lehmkuhle, Bolota Asmerom, Peter Gilmore, and Magdalena Lewy Boulet
also entered as part of strong U.S. line-up in the 40th running
New York, September 29, 2009—The 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist and
the ING New York City Marathon 2004 runner-up, Meb Keflezighi, will be
joined by three-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman and marathon rookie Jorge
Torres to lead a strong line-up of Americans entered in the ING New York
City Marathon 2009 on Sunday, November 1, it was announced today by New
York Road Runners president and CEO and race director Mary Wittenberg.
Jason Lehmkuhle, Bolota Asmerom, Peter Gilmore, and Magdalena Lewy Boulet
were also announced. Previously announced were Olympians Ryan Hall and
Brian Sell, both making a debut in the ING New York City Marathon. In
conjunction with the ING New York City Marathon, New York Road Runners will
host the 2009 USA Men's Marathon Championship and offer a special USA
Championship-only prize purse of $150,000.
"This is the finest gathering of America's marathoners since the Olympic
Trials race here in 2007," said Wittenberg. "I love the potent mix of
Americans, which should give confidence to each of them. We'll have the
veterans—Meb, Abdi, Ryan, and Brian—and the most significant debutant in
three years, Jorge Torres, with a supporting cast seeking to break through,
including Jason and Bolota. Look for red, white, and blue to figure
prominently from start to finish."
Keflezighi, 34, of San Diego, CA, has been on the podium twice at the ING
New York City Marathon, with a runner-up finish in 2004 and a third-place
showing in 2005. A three-time national 10,000-meter champion (2000, '02,
'04), Keflezighi holds the American record at that distance (27:13.98).
Earlier this year, he posted a personal-best time of 2:09:21 in the Flora
London Marathon and captured the USA Half-Marathon Championships title.
"I look forward to competing for the chance to earn my 20th USA
Championship against the amazing field," said Keflezighi. "To achieve this
milestone in the Big Apple would mean a lot to me."
Abdirahman, 32, of Tucson, AZ, will be making his fourth appearance in New
York after finishing 14th in 2004, fifth in 2005, and sixth in 2008. A
four-time USA champion at 10,000 meters, Abdirahman returns to New York
after finishing fourth in the NYC Half-Marathon in 1:02:51.
Torres, 29, of Boulder, CO, will be making his marathon debut in New York
after much success at the 5000-meter and 10,000-meter distances. In 2008,
he finished third in the 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials to secure
his first Olympic appearance, and finished second at the USA Cross Country
Championships. Torres placed fourth at the USA Cross Country Championships
this year.
Lehmkuhle, 31, of Minneapolis, MN, finished eighth at last year's ING New
York City Marathon, and he was fifth in a personal-best time of 2:12:54 at
the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men's Marathon in New York in 2007. In
2008, Lehmkuhle finished second in the USA Half-Marathon Championships. He
was eighth at the 2009 USA 15K Championships and third at the 2009 USA 20K
Championships.
The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Women's Marathon runner-up, Lewy
Boulet, 36, of Oakland, CA, will be making her fourth appearance at the ING
New York City Marathon after finishing eighth in 2008 in 2:33:56. Earlier
this year, Lewy Boulet captured the USA Half-Marathon title in Houston
finishing in 1:11:47.
Asmerom, 30, of Oakland, CA, made his marathon debut last year at the ING
New York City Marathon and finished 10th in 2:16:37. He competed in the
2000 Olympic Games for his native Eritrea in the 5000 meters.
Gilmore, 32, of San Mateo, CA, set a personal record of 2:12:45 at the 2006
Boston Marathon, and he was the top American finisher in the ING New York
City Marathon 2006 in a time of 2:13:13.
Athletes will be vying for a total guaranteed prize purse of $800,000, the
largest in race history. In celebration of the 40th running of the New York
City Marathon, a new champion's bonus of $70,000 will be awarded to any
past champion who wins this year, bringing a former champion's first-place
prize this year to $200,000.
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