FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
International Distance-Running Greats, Featuring Wilson Kipsang and
Buzunesh Deba, to Challenge Defending Champions at the
2014 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2
Marathon world record-holder Kipsang will headline a stacked men's field
featuring three past champions, including previously announced two-time
defending champion and course record-holder, Geoffrey Mutai
Bronx resident and two-time New York City Marathon Runner-Up Deba will lead
a star-studded women's field against an unprecedented four former New York
City Marathon champions, including previously announced defending champion
Priscah Jeptoo
New York, September 10, 2014-An extraordinary contingent of decorated
marathoners from around the world, featuring world record-holder Wilson
Kipsang of Kenya and Bronx resident and two-time New York City Marathon
runner-up Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia, will compete in a race for the ages at
the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2, 2014, it was
announced today by Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road
Runners.
Kipsang, in his first New York City Marathon appearance, will line up
against three former New York City Marathon champions-previously announced
course record-holder Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya (2011, 2013), Gebre
Gebremariam of Ethiopia (2010), and previously announced American Meb
Keflezighi (2009). Deba will defend her home turf against four former New
York City Marathon champions-Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya (2013), Firehiwot Dado
of Ethiopia (2011), Edna Kiplagat of Kenya (2010), and Jelena Prokopcuka of
Latvia (2005, 2006).
"This year's international field of past New York City Marathon champions,
record-setters, and global championship medalists echoes the aspirational
spirit of the TCS New York City Marathon-bringing the world together to
celebrate the diversity of New York City and strive to achieve something
bigger than ourselves-a global running community," said Wittenberg. "We're
proud to welcome Wilson, a world-renowned marathon icon; Buzunesh, the
ultimate running ambassador for our City; and an unparalleled field to "get
their New York on" with every stride they take through the City's five
boroughs, as they lead runners from Staten Island to Central Park."
Kipsang, 32, of Kenya, arguably the world's best marathoner, rewrote
history when he set the current marathon world record of 2:03:23 to win the
2013 BMW Berlin Marathon. The 2012 London Olympic Marathon bronze medalist
has run under 2:05 five times, the most in history. He won his second
Virgin Money London Marathon in 2014 in a course record of 2:04:29 after
narrowly missing the record in the 2012 event by four seconds with his time
of 2:04:44. He is the two-time champion and the course record-holder at the
Frankfurt Marathon, at which he coincidently fell four seconds short of the
standing world record in 2011. At the 2009 RAK Half-Marathon, he became the
fifth person in history to break 59 minutes with a time of 58:59. Kipsang
also won the highly competitive Great North Run in 2012. He will make his
New York City Marathon debut in his first return to the city since winning
the 2013 NYC Half.
"I'm 'getting my New York on!'" said Kipsang. "My preparations for the TCS
New York City Marathon have begun, and every day before training I know
that without self-discipline, success is impossible."
Deba, 27, of Ethiopia, who resides in the Bronx, NY, is the fastest-ever
New York City female resident in the Marathon by more than 10 minutes,
boasting a personal best of 2:19:59, which she ran to finish second in the
2014 Boston Marathon; the time is the fastest that anyone in the women's
field has run in 2014. She has finished in the top nine at the last four
New York City Marathons-seventh in 2009, ninth in 2010, and second in 2011
and 2013-and finished second at this year's 2014 NYC Half. Deba has won
eight of the 14 marathons that she has completed in her career and is one
of only 18 women in history to have broken 2:20:00 at the distance. After
missing the New York City Marathon title by four seconds in 2011 and by
less than one minute in 2013, Deba will attempt to become the first New
York City resident to accept the coveted laurel wreath in the 40 years
since Kathrine Switzer won the race in 1974.
"I'm excited for the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon," said Deba. "As they
say, 'the third time's the charm.' After having two previous years of
successful experience, I believe this year will be the most exciting. I
have been training very well and find myself in good shape. With the will
of God, this year will be so perfect. I can't wait to get back again on the
streets of my hometown, New York City, and see the passion, love, and
amusement of all my fans. I am so proud of being a New Yorker and part of
the most prestigious World Marathon Major, the TCS New York City Marathon."
In addition to Kipsang and past New York City Marathon champions Mutai and
Gebremariam, the men's international field, representing 17 countries, will
feature reigning Olympic and World Championship gold medalist Stephen
Kiprotich of Uganda; 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon runner-up Stanley
Biwott of Kenya; former 10K world record-holder and Olympic bronze medalist
Micah Kogo of Kenya; 2013 New York City Marathon third-place finisher
Lusapho April of South Africa; 2012 Tokyo Marathon champion Michael Kipyego
of Kenya; Japanese rivals Yuki Kawauchi and Masato Imai, who finished 11th
and sixth, respectively, at the 2013 New York City Marathon; 2012 NYC Half
champion Peter Cheruiyot Kirui of Kenya; two-time Olympian Abderrahime
Bouramdane of Morocco; 2012 Norwegian Olympian Urige Buta; and Irish 5000-
and 10,000-meter record-holder Alistair Cragg.
Deba and past New York City Marathon champions Jeptoo, Dado, Kiplagat, and
Prokopcuka will be part of an international field representing 11 countries
that includes 2011-2012 World Marathon Majors series champion Mary Keitany;
2013 IAAF World Championships Marathon silver medalist Valeria Straneo of
Italy; 2012 European 10,000-meter champion Ana Dulce Felix of Portugal;
Moroccan Rkia El Moukin, making her debut at the distance; and 2013
European Indoor 3000-meter champion Sara Moreira of Portugal.
Featured Athlete Backgrounds and Notable Performances
-Kipsang, 32, of Kenya, set the world record in the marathon with
a time of 2:03:23 to win the 2013 BMW Berlin Marathon. The 2012 Olympic
Marathon bronze medalist is the only runner in history to run sub-2:05 five
times and is a two-time champion and course record-holder of both the
Virgin Money London Marathon and the Frankfurt Marathon. The 2013 NYC Half
champion's time of 58:59 at the 2009 RAK Half-Marathon made him the fifth
person in history to break 59 minutes at the distance.
-Mutai, 32, of Kenya, is the course record-holder (2:05:06) and
two-time defending champion of the New York City Marathon. He ran the
fastest marathon of all time (2:03:02) to win the 2011 Boston Marathon;
however, the course is ineligible for IAAF world records due to its net
drop in elevation and point-to-point layout. In 2012, Mutai, the reigning
NYC Half champion, captured the 2011-2012 World Marathon Majors series
title with victories at three of the six World Marathon Majors races:
Boston (2011), New York (2011), and Berlin (2012).
-Gebremariam, 30, won the 2010 New York City Marathon in 2:08:14
in his debut at the distance. He returned to New York in 2011 and finished
fourth. The 2009 IAAF World Cross Country champion finished third at both
the 2011 and 2013 Boston Marathons and represented his country at the 2004
and 2012 Olympics, finishing fifth in the 5000 meters and eighth in the
10,000 meters, respectively. He was the 2011 NYC Half runner-up and is the
former course record-holder of the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K, which he won in
2010 in a time of 27:42.
-Kiprotich, 25, of Uganda, won the 2012 London Olympic Marathon in
a time of 2:08:01; it was Uganda's second-ever Olympic gold medal and first
since 1972. His subsequent victory at the 2013 IAAF World Championships
marathon (2:09:51) made him only the second man in history to earn both
titles. Last year, he finished 12th in his first New York City Marathon
appearance.
-Kogo, 28, of Kenya, is the former world record-holder in the road
10K (27:01) and the 2008 Olympic 10,000-meter bronze medalist. Before
finishing fourth at the 2013 Chicago Marathon, he made his marathon debut
at the 2013 Boston Marathon, finishing second by only five seconds. The
2011 Healthy Kidney 10K runner-up is the sixth-fastest 10,000-meter runner
in history, with a personal best of 26:35.63.
-Deba, 27, of Ethiopia and residing in the Bronx, NY, is the
fastest-ever New York City female resident in the marathon. She ran 2:19:59
to finish second at the 2014 Boston Marathon. The two-time runner-up at the
New York City Marathon (2011, 2013) has also finished seventh (2009) and
ninth (2010) in the event. One of only 18 women in history to break 2:20 at
the distance, she has run the fastest time this year of any woman in the
field. The 2014 NYC Half runner-up has won eight of 14 marathons during her
career.
-Jeptoo, 30, is the reigning New York City Marathon champion. She
earned the 2012-2013 World Marathon Majors series title with victories at
both the New York and London marathons in 2013, a silver-medal performance
at the 2012 London Olympic Marathon, and a third-place finish at the 2012
London Marathon. She ran the third-fastest half-marathon of all time
(1:05:45) to win the 2013 Great North Run and has a marathon personal best
of 2:20:14.
-Dado, 30, of Ethiopia, won the 2011 New York City Marathon
champion in her personal best of 2:23:15, the fastest time ever run by an
Ethiopian at the event. She is the former course record-holder of the NYC
Half, having won the 2012 race in 1:08:35. She won the Rome City Marathon
for three consecutive years (2009-2011), finished fourth at the 2012 Boston
Marathon, and won this year's Prague Marathon in 2:23:34.
-Kiplagat, 34, of Kenya, is a two-time IAAF World Championships
gold medalist and the only woman to successfully defend her gold medal at
that event. The 2012 New York Mini 10K champion and 2011 NYC Half runner-up
won the 2010 New York City Marathon in 2:28:20. Kiplagat, a 2012 Olympian,
won this year's Virgin Money London Marathon and finished second in that
race in 2012.
-Prokopcuka, 37, of Latvia, is a two-time champion of the New York
City Marathon (2005, 2006), one of only seven women to win two titles. In
her other three New York City Marathon appearances, she placed third (2007,
2013) and fifth (2004). She holds seven Latvian national records, including
for the marathon, and represented Latvia on the track in three Olympics
(1996, 2000, 2004).
-Keitany, 32, of Kenya, ran the second-fastest half-marathon of
all time (1:05:39) to set the course record at the 2014 Great North Run.
She won two consecutive London Marathons (2011, 2012), the latter in a
blistering 2:18:37-a time that makes her the second-fastest woman in
history behind the legendary Paula Radcliffe. The fourth-place finisher at
the 2012 London Olympic Marathon has placed third twice at the New York
City Marathon (2010, 2011) and won the 2011-2012 World Marathon Majors
series title.
-Straneo, 37, of Italy, is the 2013 IAAF World Championships
Marathon silver medalist and owner of the Italian national records for that
distance (2:23:44). She finished second at the 2014 European Championships
Marathon and eighth at the 2012 London Olympic Marathon, running 2:25:27 in
both events.
Professional Men Marathon Personal Best
Geoffrey Mutai, KEN 2:03:02*
Wilson Kipsang, KEN 2:03:23
Gebre Gebremariam, ETH 2:04:53
Stanley Biwott, KEN 2:04:55
Peter Cheruiyot Kirui, KEN 2:06:31
Michael Kipyego, KEN 2:06:48
Micah Kogo, KEN 2:06:56
Stephen Kiprotich, UGA 2:07:20
Abderrahime Bouramdane, MAR 2:07:33
Yuki Kawauchi, JPN 2:08:14
Luspaho April, RSA 2:08:32
Urige Buta, NOR 2:09:27
Masato Imai, JPN 2:09:30
Alistair Cragg, IRL 2:23:05
*Time ineligible for IAAF record purposes
Professional Women Marathon Personal Best
Mary Keitany, KEN 2:18:37
Edna Kiplagat, KEN 2:19:50
Buzunesh Deba, ETH 2:19:59
Priscah Jeptoo, KEN 2:20:14
Jelena Prokopcuka, LAT 2:22:56
Firehiwot Dado, ETH 2:23:15
Valeria Straneo, ITA 2:23:44
Ana Dulce Félix, POR 2:25:40
Rkia El Moukim, MAR Debut (1:10:03 HM)
Sara Moreira, POR Debut (1:10:08 HM)
The TCS New York City Marathon will be televised live nationally on ESPN2
and ESPN Deportes+ from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST. For those who have
video subscriptions with affiliated providers, the race will also be
available via WatchESPN. The race will be broadcast live in the New York
City metropolitan area on WABC-TV from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST. Viewers
can also watch the race on 7online or via WatchABC on mobile devices (for
participating cable providers). Pre-race features from the start at Fort
Wadsworth will be broadcast live at 7:00 a.m. on WABC-TV, 7online.com, and
WatchABC, and a national highlights show will air from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on
local ABC affiliates. International viewers can watch the broadcast via a
live digital stream from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST on 7online.com or via a
variety of global broadcast partners (international viewers should check
local listings).
Last year, 50,266 runners crossed the finish line of the New York City
Marathon, making it the world's largest marathon ever. Runners from more
than 100 countries and each of the 50 states participated.
About the TCS New York City Marathon
The TCS New York City Marathon is the most popular and inclusive marathon
in the world, attracting the world's top professional athletes and a vast
range of recreational runners. The race began in 1970 with just 127
entrants racing four laps of Central Park. Today, an estimated 50,000
runners from around the world tour New York City's five boroughs, starting
on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and finishing
in Central Park. Participants include Olympians, Paralympians, wheelchair
racers, top age-group competitors, and many thousands who run for charity
and to achieve their own personal goals. Millions of fans cheer the runners
from the streets and watch the global television broadcast. The race is
part of the World Marathon Majors, an alliance of the world's six biggest
marathons that determines each year's top male and top female marathoner.
The TCS New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road
Runners, the world's foremost community running organization, whose mission
is to help and inspire people through running. Tata Consultancy Services, a
leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions
organization, is the Premier Partner of NYRR and is in its inaugural year
as title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon.
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