Keflezighi to Run in the Inaugural NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE

NEW YORK – (August 21, 2006) – Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi of the United States has been added to the field of the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE on Sunday, August 27, to replace marathon world record-holder Paul Tergat of Kenya, who withdrew from the race due to a family matter, it was announced by Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners.
Tergat was forced to pull out of the race to join his wife, Monica, at home in Kenya after the premature birth of the couple\’s fourth child, daughter Jepchumba. Both the wife and the daughter are reported to be fine.
\“While we hate to lose Paul, we gain Meb, so as far as trades go, this is a pretty good swap,\“ said Wittenberg. \“With two top-three finishes in the last two ING New York City Marathons, Meb knows how to run well on the city streets, and we expect that he is going to be one to watch on Broadway.\“
The men\’s field was additionally bolstered with the announcement that Kenyan veteran Thomas Nyariki, 34, a 1996 Olympian and the winner of the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K earlier this month, will participate in the 13.1-mile race through the streets of New York City. Already announced was a leading trio of American standouts, two-time Olympians Alan Culpepper and Abdi Abdirahman, and marathoner Peter Gilmore.

The NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE offers $60,000 in prize money, including $10,000 each to the men\’s and women\’s champion. The women\’s field is paced by Olympic marathon silver medalist Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, 2005 IAAF World Half-Marathon champion Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania, 2004 IAAF World Cross Country champion Benita Johnson of Australia and four-time Olympian Colleen De Reuck of the United States.

Keflezighi, 31, took home the silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon and followed that with a second place finish at the ING New York City Marathon 2004 and a third place finish in New York in 2005. Keflezighi turned in a third place finish at the Boston Marathon in April, the opening World Marathon Majors Series race. Although the Team Running USA athlete has finished on the podium in each of his last five marathon starts, the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE will mark his official debut at the 13.1-mile half-marathon distance.

With a course designed to celebrate New York City, the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE will take runners on a loop through Central Park, down Seventh Avenue through Times Square, across 42nd Street, and along the expansive West Side Highway to Battery Park in the heart of the city\’s financial district, finishing with a view of the Statue of Liberty.

New York Road Runners is working in collaboration with the Mayor\’s Office, City of New York Parks & Recreation, NYC & Company, the New York City Sports Commission, New York City Police Department, Department of Transportation, Department of Sanitation, New York City Fire Department and all the other city agencies that help throughout the year to produce its world-class events.
For more information, visit:
NYRR.org
Copyright © 2000-06 Running USA Inc.