FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"Freshman Class of 2011," Including Bobby Curtis and Lauren Fleshman,
to Debut at ING New York City Marathon
Ed Moran and Molly Pritz round out USA runners making marathon debuts in
New York on Sunday, November 6
New York, August 10, 2011-The "Freshman Class of 2011"-Bobby Curtis, Ed
Moran, Lauren Fleshman, and Molly Pritz-will make their marathon debuts at
the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 6, it was announced
today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
This quartet of American standouts continues a tradition set by compatriots
Deena Kastor (2001), Meb Keflezighi (2002), Marla Runyan (2002), Dathan
Ritzenhein (2006), Kara Goucher (2008), Jorge Torres (2009), and Shalane
Flanagan (2010) of making their marathon debuts on New York City streets.
"This year's 'Freshman Class' are some of the best in their respective
distances, and we are very excited to see what they can do in the
marathon," said Wittenberg. "New York has become an inviting and exciting
place for our Americans to debut from Alberto, Deena and Meb to Kara and
Shalane, and we are ready to see what Bobby, Ed, Molly, and Lauren have in
store for 2011."
Curtis and Moran will join a pair of previously announced ING New York City
Marathon champions on the men's side: Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia (2010)
and Meb Keflezighi (2009) of the United States. In the women's division,
Fleshman and Pritz will battle against defending champion Edna Kiplagat of
Kenya, three-time Olympian Jen Rhines of the United States, and Kim Smith
of New Zealand.
Curtis, 26, of Ardmore, PA, became the seventh-fastest American of all time
at 10,000 meters when he ran 27:24.67 to finish second at the Payton Jordan
Invitational in April. Currently the third-fastest 5K runner in the world
for 2011, the two-time Team USA member of the IAAF World Cross Country
Championships team won the 2008 NCAA Championship at 5000 meters in
13:33.93.
"I'm thrilled to be debuting at the ING New York City Marathon," said
Curtis. "I'm looking forward to competing as an American in what I believe
to be the USA's most prestigious road race. Not only that, I'm excited to
be competing in a city full of passionate running fans, many of whom will
be running the marathon on November 6 just like me. I can think of no
better event than the ING New York City Marathon for an American distance
runner to have the race of his or her life."
Moran, 30, of Williamsburg, VA, won gold in the 5000 meters at the 2007 Pan
American Games, becoming the first American male to do so since 1987. He
also took home the title of USA 10K champion in 2010 at the AJC Peachtree
Road Race in Atlanta. Moran finished fourth in the 10,000 meters at the
2008 Olympic Trials, missing the Olympic team by six seconds.
"I'm excited about making my marathon debut in New York City this fall,"
said Moran, who was born in Staten Island. "While I am mostly focused on
the challenge of the marathon distance and the world-class competition that
comes to the Big Apple, I'm equally excited about fulfilling my childhood
dream of running across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. For me, the ING New
York City Marathon will be more than just a race. It is an event that I
have always dreamed of competing in."
Fleshman, 29, of Eugene, OR, is making her marathon debut after winning the
5000-meter championship at the Aviva London Grand Prix over the weekend.
The two-time USA 5000-meter champion has twice competed in the World Track
& Field Championships, and sees the marathon as a stepping-stone on the way
to her 2012 Olympic goals.
"My dream for the past 11 years has been to do something special with the
5000 meters in the 2012 Olympics," said Fleshman, a three-time NCAA titlist
for Stanford University. "I know I need to get a lot stronger, so it became
obvious that I need to throw some new wood on the fire. I've seen the
marathon work its magic on many women I admire, and I'm convinced: Nothing
will change my physiology, stretch my mind, and freshen my perspective more
than running the ING New York City Marathon."
Pritz, 23, of Williamsport, PA, won the 2011 USA 25K Championship in May in
1:25:38. She has shown success in the half-marathon distance with a win at
the 2010 Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Half-Marathon in 1:12:14 and finished as
the runner-up to Smith at the 2011 Mardi Grad Half-Marathon in 1:11:05.
Pritz has competed in the last two NYRR New York Mini 10K races in Central
Park, finishing 16th in 2010 and 15th in 2011.
"Watching the ING New York City Marathon in 2008 is the reason I became a
long-distance runner," said Pritz. "Ever since then I couldn't imagine a
better place to make my marathon debut. I am not only excited to race in
New York City, but am also thankful to be able to have an experience of a
lifetime."
Kastor and Goucher set women's American marathon debut records in New York.
Goucher set the current record at 2:25:53 when she finished third three
years ago.
New York Road Runners
Headquartered in New York City, New York Road Runners is dedicated to
advancing the sport of running, enhancing health and fitness for all, and
meeting our community's needs. Our goal is to use the expertise acquired in
our 53-year history to empower all people to live fitter, healthier lives
through participation in our races, community events, instruction and
training resources, and youth programs. Our races and other events draw
more than 300,000 people each year. The ING New York City Marathon, NYRR's
premier event, is the largest and most inclusive marathon in the world,
attracting the world's top professional runners every year and raising
$30.8 million for charity in 2010. NYRR's running-based youth programs,
which currently serve more than 100,000 children in hundreds of schools and
community centers, promote children's health and fitness, character
development, and personal achievement in underserved communities. For more
information, visit www.nyrr.org.
The ING New York City Marathon
The premier event of New York Road Runners, the ING New York City Marathon
is one of the world's great road races, drawing some 140,000 applicants.
The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, not only for the
$800,000 in prize money, but also for the chance to excel in the media
capital of the world before two million cheering spectators and a worldwide
broadcast reach of 330 million. As any one of the more than 875,000 past
participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central Park is one
of the great thrills of a lifetime. For more information, visit
www.ingnycmarathon.org.
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