Press Release - New York City Marathon - 9/19/02

                                 Contact:  Richard Finn
                                           New York Road Runners
                                           rfinn@nyrrc.org
                                           +1 212-423-2229
 
                  THE VETERAN BROWN AND ROOKIE O'DOWD
                   TO RUN THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON

NEW YORK, Sept. 19 - Great Britain's Jon Brown will be joined by countryman
Matt O'Dowd, who will be making his marathon debut, in the 33rd running of
the New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 3 it was announced today by Allan
Steinfeld, New York City Marathon Race Director and New York Road Runners
President and CEO.

Brown, 31, will be returning to the NYC Marathon for the second consecutive
year after placing sixth (2:11:24) in last year's memorable edition of the
famed five-borough race. Brown was fourth in the 2000 Sydney Olympic
Marathon (2:11:17) and set his marathon personal best of 2:09:44 with a
fourth place showing at the 1999 London Marathon.

Brown's top results this year include a fifth place finish at the Cherry
Blossom 10 Mile Run (47:33) and a sixth place finish at the Cardinal
Invitational 10,000m (27:53.42).

O'Dowd, 26, is stepping up to the marathon distance for the first time in a
distinguished career which has seen the Loughborough University graduate
represent his country at the World Cross Country Championships for the last
three years. In his most recent outing O'Dowd finished second (47:29) at the
Great South Run 10 Mile.

Inaugurated in 1970 with 127 entrants, the New York City Marathon has grown
into the world's premiere road race, featuring 30,000 participants, some 2.5
million live spectators, a leading elite field, and a guaranteed prize purse
of more than $475,000.  Broadcast across the nation and in 125 countries
worldwide, the 26.2-mile footrace is the United States' most watched one-day
sporting event.  The New York City Marathon takes places the first Sunday in
November each year and is the premier event of New York Road Runners, the
world's most comprehensive running organization.  For more information visit
www.nycmarathon.org.

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