FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
America's Best, Led by Kara Goucher and Desiree Linden, to Join
Meb Keflezighi on 2014 TCS New York City Marathon Start Line on
Sunday, November 2
Goucher returns to New York for first time since a historic third-place
finish in 2008, and Linden will make her New York City Marathon debut among
deepest squad of American women in the event's history
Strong contingent of American men, including top returner Ryan Vail, will
join previously announced Meb Keflezighi
New York, September 8, 2014-Acclaimed American talent, led by 2012
Olympians Kara Goucher and Desiree Linden, will join previously announced
Meb Keflezighi on the start line 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. Goucher will return to New York
for the first time since making her mark on the 2008 New York City Marathon
when she ran the fastest women's American debut marathon-2 hours, 25
minutes, and 53 seconds-and finished in third place, and Linden will run
the New York City Marathon for the first time. Keflezighi will lead the
American men, including top returner Ryan Vail.
"It's an honor and thrill to welcome such an extraordinary lineup of
American runners to this year's Marathon," said Wittenberg. "Kara, Desi,
and Ryan are, along with Meb, some of America's most established and adored
distance runners. As they lead the way through the City's five boroughs and
diverse running communities on Marathon Day, we're sure they'll inspire not
only the 50,000-plus runners following in their footsteps, but the next
generation of great American marathoners as well."
Goucher, 36, of Boulder, CO, a has been a pioneer among American women
marathoners since her impressive debut at the 2008 New York City Marathon,
when she ran 2:25:53, the fastest-ever marathon debut by an American woman
and the fastest time by an American woman on the New York course. Her
third-place showing was the first podium finish by an American woman in 14
years. On the track, Goucher made history at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor
Championships when she finished third in the 10,000 meters-the first
American woman ever to medal in the event. Before her 11th-place finish at
the 2012 Olympic Marathon, Goucher placed third at the NYC Half in both
2011 and 2012. She has finished in the top six three times at the Boston
Marathon: third in 2009, fifth in 2011, and sixth in 2013. The 2014 TCS New
York City Marathon will be her first competitive marathon since the 2013
Boston Marathon.
"Since I ran my first marathon in New York City in 2008, I have wanted to
go back and run again," said Goucher. "I am so excited after a year of
injuries and changes that my return to 'marathoning' happens here. New
York City is a very special place for me, as I was born in Queens. I have
always loved the city, and I have felt a special connection since running
my first marathon there."
Linden, 31, of Washington Township, MI, a 2012 Olympian, finished second at
the 2011 Boston Marathon with a personal-best time of 2:22:38, a breakout
performance in which she ran the then-fastest Boston Marathon time by an
American woman. She finished second at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials
Marathon in a time of 2:25:55, but she suffered an injury that forced her
to drop out of the 2012 London Olympic Marathon. Since overcoming her
injury, Linden has finished second at the 2012 USA Half-Marathon
Championships, fifth at the 2013 BMW Berlin Marathon, and 10th overall and
second among Americans at the 2014 Boston Marathon.
"I feel I've been preparing for my TCS New York City Marathon debut since
the beginning of my marathon career," said Davila. "I believe the course
favors strong and experienced marathoners, and I'm excited that I've
finally developed the fitness and fortitude to take on the challenging
course and strong field that NYRR will assemble. I hope to build on the
momentum from the spring and capitalize this fall by competing at the front
of one of the world's most prestigious marathons."
As two of six American women entered with personal-best times under
2:30:00, Goucher and Linden will lead the deepest American women's field in
New York City Marathon history, including 2004 Olympic bronze medalist and
American record-holder Deena Kastor, 2008 Olympian Blake Russell, 2013 USA
Marathon champion Annie Bersagel, and 2:28 performer Lauren Kleppin.
The top American men joining Keflezighi and Vail are the top two men's
finishers from the 2013 USA Marathon Championships: winner Nick Arciniaga
and runner-up Josphat Boit. Luke Puskedra, a 2012 Team USA member at the
IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships, will make his marathon debut.
Featured Athlete Backgrounds and Notable Performances
- Goucher, 36, of Boulder, CO, finished third in her marathon debut
at the 2008 New York City Marathon in 2:25:53, the fastest-ever debut
marathon by an American woman, the fastest time by an American woman in New
York, and the first podium finish by an American woman in 14 years. A
two-time Olympian, Goucher has recorded three top-six finishes at the
Boston Marathon: in 2009 (third), 2011 (fifth), and 2013 (sixth). The
third-place NYC Half finisher in both 2011 and 2012, she took the
10,000-meter bronze medal at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, the
first medal for an American woman in the event's history.
- Linden, 31, of Washington Township, MI, will make her New York
City Marathon debut. She finished second at the 2011 Boston Marathon in a
personal best of 2:22:38, lowering her previous best by four minutes and
running the then-fastest Boston Marathon time by an American woman. The
2012 Olympian finished 10th overall and second among American women at the
2014 Boston Marathon and fifth at the 2013 BMW Berlin Marathon.
- Kastor, 41, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, won this year's More
Magazine/Fitness Magazine Women's Half-Marathon, setting a national
masters' record of 1:11:38. She was the winner of the 2006 London Marathon,
and she holds four open American records, including 2:19:36 for the
marathon.
- Keflezighi, 39, of San Diego, CA, lengthened his remarkable stay
atop the U.S. marathon rankings with a victory at the 2014 Boston Marathon,
becoming the first American man to win the race since Greg Meyer in 1983.
Similarly, in 2009, he became the first American since Alberto Salazar in
1982 to win the New York City Marathon. Keflezighi's sixth-place finish in
2011 was his sixth top-10 finish at the race.
- Vail, 28, of Portland, OR, is the top male American returner,
having finished 13th last year. This year, Vail has taken 10th place at the
Virgin Money London Marathon in a personal best of 2:10:57. A three-time
U.S. representative at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Vail has
finished in the top six 10 times at United States championship races.
- Arciniaga, 31, of Flagstaff, AZ, finished seventh at the 2014
Boston Marathon. In 2013, he won the gold medal at the USA Marathon
Championships. He represented the United States at the 2011 IAAF World
Championships and owns a personal best of 2:11:30 from the 2011 Chevron
Houston Marathon, where he finished second.
- Boit, 30, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, was the runner-up at both the
2014 USA Half-Marathon Championships and the 2013 USA Marathon
Championships. He represented the United States at the 2014 IAAF World
Half-Marathon Championships, and he set a personal best this past spring at
the Boston Marathon to finish 11th with a time of 2:12:52. He was a two
time NCAA champion at the University of Arkansas.
- Puskedra, 24, of Portland, OR, will make his marathon debut at
the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon. He was the third-place finisher at the
2014 USA 20K Championships and represented the United States at the 2012
IAAF Half-Marathon World Championships. During his senior year at the
University of Oregon, he took fourth place in his half-marathon debut at
the 2012 Aramco Houston Half-Marathon in 1:01:36.
Professional Men Personal Best Marathon Twitter Handle
Meb Keflezighi 2:08:37 @runmeb
Ryan Vail 2:10:57 @ryanvail
Nick Arciniaga 2:11:30 @NickArciniaga
Josphat Boit 2:12:52 @Boit
Tim Ritchie 2:14:50 @TimRitchieWTD
Zach Hine 2:16:40 @Hineoceros
Stephan Shay 2:16:48 @stephanshay
Chris Siemers 2:18:47
Ted Callinan 2:21:22
Luke Puskedra Debut (1:01:36 Half-Marathon) @lukepuskedra
Professional Women Personal Best Marathon Twitter Handle
Deena Kastor 2:19:36 @DeenaKastor
Desiree Linden 2:22:28 @des_linden
Kara Goucher 2:24:52 @karagoucher
Lauren Kleppin 2:28:48 @laurenkleppin
Annie Bersagel 2:28:59 @AnnieBersagel
Blake Russell 2:29:10 @BlakeRun
Michelle Lilienthal 2:34:50
Marci Gage 2:35:40
Laurie Knowles 2:36:29
Alvina Begay 2:37:14 @AYBegay
Kasie Enman 2:37:14
Alia Gray 2:44:22 @aliatgray
Kate Pallardy 2:48:51 @KatePallardy
Teresa McWalters Debut (1:14:23 Half-Marathon)
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. The male and
female winners were both from Kenya: Geoffrey Mutai, who became a two-time
reigning champion, and Priscah Jeptoo, who came from more than a half-mile
behind to take the lead in the race's final three miles.
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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