RUNNING USA – Kim Smith to Run the ING New York City Marathon 2011 -U.S. 5000 meter record holder Molly Huddle also announces participation in the NYRR 5 on November 5, during ING New York City Marathon weekend; training partners make announcement at NYRR Mighty Milers Fun Run on National Running Day

NEW YORK – (June 1, 2011) – Coming off a heartbreaking race at April's Boston Marathon, where she led for 17 miles before a leg injury forced her to withdraw, New Zealand Olympian Kim Smith will make her marathon return at the ING New York City Marathon 2011 on Sunday, November 6, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

The marathon will be the second of two planned appearances in New York this year for Smith, as it was also announced that she will run the NYRR New York Mini 10K on Saturday, June 11, as her first race since Boston. The race will pay tribute to New York City Marathon great Grete Waitz, who passed away in April.

Additionally, Smith's training partner Molly Huddle, the U.S. 5000 meter record holder, was the first professional athlete announced for the NYRR 5 that will take place on Saturday, November 5, during ING New York City Marathon weekend. The race will feature a professional athlete field; still-to-be-announced prize money, start time and course details; and a finish under the marathon finish-line banner.

The announcements were made at Icahn Stadium, where the runners joined 2,000 schoolchildren for the New York Road Runners Mighty Milers Fun Run as part of the third National Running Day celebration.

Smith will join three-time Olympian Jen Rhines of the United States and defending champion Edna Kiplagat of Kenya on the marathon starting line. Rhines and Kiplagat were previously announced on Marathon Opening Day on April 27, along with defending champion Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia and ING New York City Marathon 2009 champion Meb Keflezighi of the United States.

"It's great to have two of the best women athletes in the world here today to celebrate National Running Day," said Wittenberg. "Both Kim and Molly are young at heart and full of athletic potential. Their best remains in front of them, and that's so exciting for all these kids here with us today. They are meeting two of our young superstars on their way up. We are thrilled they will be both be headlining major NYRR events this year."

Smith, 29, a native of Auckland who now lives in Providence, RI, won four NCAA titles in two seasons at Providence College. She holds 12 New Zealand records at distances from the mile to the marathon (2:25:21, London, 2010).

"I can't wait to step on the line in November for the ING New York City Marathon," said Smith. "I want to put my Boston Marathon experience behind me and I hope to do that in New York. Marathon weekend in New York is so exciting and it is a lot of fun to be part of the buzz."

Huddle, 26, also of Providence, had a breakout year in 2010, setting the U.S. 5000 meter record of 14:44.76 at the Brussels Diamond League meet and winning her second USA 10K championship. Huddle also finished second at the 5000 meters in the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships. She has won five additional USA titles over distances from 5K to 10 miles.

"It will be my third time attending the marathon, and it is always a very dramatic and exciting weekend, so I can't wait to see what happens in 2011," said Huddle. "I look forward to June 1 and lacing up in NYC on National Running Day, and I can't wait to come back to New York to be, in a small way, part of the marathon festivities. Hopefully someday I will be adding to that distance on the streets of NYC!"

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

RUNNING USA