ING New York City Marathon Draws Stellar Field for Sunday's Race

October 31, 2008 from Running USA wire (New York NY) The ING New York City Marathon - set for Sunday, November 2 - again has drawn a deep international field including defending women's champion and world record holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain as well as recent race champions Marilson Gomes dos Santos, Paul Tergat and Hendrick Ramaala, two-time Olympic silver medalist Catherine Ndereba and the 2007 women's race runner-up Gete Wami.

The large U.S. contingent is led by three-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman and 2008 Olympian and 2007 World Championships 10,000 meter bronze medalist Kara Goucher who is making her anticipated marathon debut in the hometown of her birth (Queens).

The guaranteed prize purse for the 39th edition totals more than $600,000 with at least $130,000 to each men's and women's race champion. There are also time bonuses - up to a maximum of $70,000.

For the second consecutive year, the ING New York City Marathon will determine the World Marathon Majors Series women's champion with three women - reigning WMM Series champion Gete Wami of Ethiopia (65 points), Irina Mikitenko of Germany (65 pts) and Catherine Ndereba of Kenya (41 pts) - still in contention for the $500,000 WMM champion's purse. Martin Lel of Kenya has already clinched the men's 2007-08 WMM title with 76 points. WMM Series leaderboards and more can be found at: WorldMarathonMajors.com

NBC Sports will broadcast a one-hour highlights show nationwide beginning at 3:00pm EST on Sunday, November 2. The Universal Sports TV Network will also air the race live from 9:00am EST on their digital network (go to: UniversalSports.com). A 3-hour broadcast will be replayed beginning at 9:00pm.

ING New York City Marathon 2008 Professional Field
MEN
BIB# / Athlete / CTZ / Age / PR and race / Sponsor
2, Goumri, Abderrahim, MAR, 32, 2:05:30, London, 2008, Nike
3, Ramaala, Hendrick, Johannesburg, RSA, 36, 2:06:55, London, 2006, adidas
4, Gomes dos Santos, Marilson, BRA, 31, 2:08:37, London, 2007, Pão de Açucar / Nike
5, Tergat, Paul, Nairobi, KEN, 39, 2:04:55, Berlin, 2003, Nike
6, Abdirahman, Abdi, Tucson, AZ, USA, 31, 2:08:56, Chicago, 2006, Nike
7, Rono, Daniel, KEN, 30, 2:06:58, Rotterdam, 2008, adidas
8, Kirui, Abel, KEN, 26, 2:06:51, Berlin, 2007,
9, Kigen, Wilfred, KEN, 33, 2:07:33, Hamburg, 2007, ASICS
10, Rotich, Hosea, KEN, 29, 2:07:24, Paris, 2008, Nike
11, Macharia, Isaac, KEN, 27, 2:07:16, Dubai, 2008, adidas
12, Bouramdane, Abderrahime, MAR, 30, 2:08:20, Seoul, 2007, adidas
14, Lehmkuhle, Jason, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 31, 2:12:54, Olympic Trials, 2008, ASICS
15, Cheboiwyo, Boaz, Boulder, CO, KEN, 30, 1:01:35, San Jose, 2008, Nike
16, Rohatinsky, Josh, Portland, OR, USA, 26, 2:15:22, Olympic Trials, 2007, Nike
17, Jenkins, Nate, Lowell, MA, USA, 28, 2:14:56, Olympic Trials, 2008, Saucony
18, Asmerom, Bolota, San Francisco, CA, USA, 30, 13:15.16, Heusden, 2007, Oregon Track Club
19, Carney, James, Boulder, CO, USA, 30, 2:16:54, Olympic Trials, 2007, New Balance
20, Sundell, Steve, Redwood City, CA, USA, 26, 2:16:54, Olympic Trials, 2007, NYAC
21, Humphrey, Luke, Rochester, MI, USA, 27, 2:15:22, Chicago, 2006, Hansons
22, Frey, Jacob, Oakton, VA, USA, 27, 2:16:44, Pan Am Games, 2007, Saucony
23, Nuci, Miguel, Turlock, CA, USA, 29, 2:15:34, Cal Int'l, 2006, adidas Transports
28, Graff, Chris, Crofton, MD, USA, 33, 2:18:45, Birmingham, 2003, ASICS
42, Lawson, Jerry, LaBelle, FL, USA, 42, 2:09:35, Chicago, 1997
53, Jones, Steve, Boulder, CO, GBR, 53, 2:07:13, Chicago, 1985, Reebok
58, Dixon, Rod, Los Angeles, CA, NZL, 58, 2:08:59, New York, 1983

WOMEN
BIB# / Athlete / CTZ / Age / PR and race / Sponsor
1, Radcliffe, Paula, Monte Carlo, GBR, 34, 2:15:25, London, 2003, Nike
2, Wami, Gete, Addis Ababa, ETH, 33, 2:21:34, Berlin, 2006, Nike
3, Ndereba, Catherine, Nairobi, KEN, 36, 2:18:47, Chicago, 2001, Nike
4, Tune, Dire, Addis Ababa, ETH, 23, 2:24:40, Houston, 2008, Nike
5, Jeptoo, Rita, KEN, 27, 2:23:38, Boston, 2006, adidas
6, Morgunova, Lyubov, RUS, 37, 2:25:12, Rotterdam, 2008,
7, Goucher, Kara, Portland, OR, USA, 30, 1:06:57, Newcastle, 2007, Nike
8, Smith, Kim, Providence, RI, NZL, 26, 30:35.54 NR, Palo Alto, 2008, Reebok
9, Simon, Lidia, ROU, 35, 2:22:54, Osaka, 2000, New Balance
11, Haining, Hayley, Glasgow, GBR, 36, 2:29:18, London, 2008, ASICS
12, Lewy Boulet, Magdalena, Oakland, CA, USA, 35, 2:30:19, Olympic Trials, 2008, Saucony
14, McGregor, Katie, St. Louis Park, MN, USA, 31, 2:32:36, New York, 2006, Reebok
16, Friedman, Robyn, Lambs Grove, IA, USA, 35, 2:35:02, Olympic Trials, 2008, Iowa's RunABlaze
17, Loroupe, Tegla, KEN, 35, 2:20:43, Berlin, 1999
19, Meyerhoff, Sally, Scottsdale, AZ, USA, 24, 2:39:39, Olympic Trials, 2008, Sole Sports/Skirt Sports
20, Christian, Melisa, Dallas, TX, USA, 32, 2:41:18, Olympic Trials, 2008, Unattached
21, Eap, Sopagna, Johns Island, SC, USA, 27, 2:40:19, Olympic Trials, 2008, Brooks
22, Dean, Abby, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 37, 2:41:25, Olympic Trials, 2008, PRTC / Puma
23, Bjune, Caroline, Andover, MA, USA, 34, 2:42:02, Olympic Trials, 2008, Merrimack Valley Striders / adidas Racing Team
26, Gacek, Melissa, White Bear Lake, MN, USA, 32, 2:44:10, Olympic Trials, 2008, Run N Fun
28, Daly, Megan, Menlo Park, CA, USA, 29, 2:44:51, Olympic Trials, 2008, Impala Racing Team
30, Paulson, Ilsa, Flagstaff, AZ, USA, 19, 1:13:22, NYC Half, 2008, Unattached
31, Bierbaum, Caroline, New York, NY, USA, 25, 3:01:00, Chicago, 2007, NYAC
42, Pieterse, Zola, RSA, 42, Debut
43, Fiacconi, Franca, Rome, ITA, 43, 2:25:17, New York, 1998, Unattached

Find more race information at: INGnycmarathon.org