FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Paula Radcliffe to Defend Title at ING New York City Marathon 2009
New York, October 1, 2009—Three-time ING New York City Marathon champion
and marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain will
return to the New York streets to defend her title at the ING New York City
Marathon 2009 on Sunday, November 1, it was announced today by New York
Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
"I am really excited to be returning to New York this year for the
marathon," said Radcliffe. "With it being the 40th running, I am sure the
atmosphere and the quality of the race will be extra special and I am
looking forward to racing and having fun. New York holds so many inspiring
and happy memories for me. I want to continue adding memories for many
years to come."
Radcliffe, who was sidelined with a foot injury earlier this year, withdrew
from the women's marathon at the IAAF World Championships in August due to
lack of preparation. After having bunion surgery in March, Radcliffe made
her first start of the year by winning the NYC Half-Marathon in August for
her seventh straight road race victory in New York City.
"This is uncharted territory. New York hasn't had a four-time champion
runner since the great Grete Waitz won her fourth in 1982," said
Wittenberg. "Paula is an important figure in the history of our race, and
it's only fitting that she'll step to the line as the race favorite at our
40th running."
Radcliffe, 35, is only the second woman to win the New York City Marathon
three times, claiming her most recent victory last year in 2:23:56.
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.
Radcliffe has won a career New York "grand slam" by adding this summer's
NYC Half-Marathon title to victories at the Continental Airlines Fifth
Avenue Mile, NYRR Mini 10K, and the ING New York City Marathon.
Radcliffe owns the women's marathon world record of 2:15:25, which she set
in 2003 at the London Marathon. She has run four of the five fastest
women's marathon times in history.
Radcliffe joins a field that includes previously announced past champions
Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil (2006, 2008), Hendrick Ramaala of South
Africa (2004), Paula Tergat (2005) and Martin Lel of Kenya (2003, 2007),
and Ludmila Petrova of Russia (2000).
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.
###
|
