FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Shalane Flanagan Named 2017 New York Road Runners
Pro Performer of the Year
December 11, 2017 at 5:00am
NYRR Team for Kids Ambassador garners public and media vote after becoming
the first American woman to win the TCS New York City Marathon open
division in 40 years
New York, December 11, 2017 — Shalane Flanagan was voted the 2017 New York
Road Runners Pro Performer of the Year by the public and the media after
becoming the first American woman to win the TCS New York City Marathon
open division in 40 years in November. The NYRR Pro Performer of the Year
award recognizes the top athlete for his or her outstanding achievements at
NYRR races over the entire year.
"It's an honor to win this award, as the names I was up against were so
impressive," Flanagan said. "But it's not all about just the performances;
it goes beyond that. It's about us being good people and inspiring others."
Flanagan's time of 2:26:53 was the second-fastest time by a U.S. woman ever
at the New York City Marathon, with her victory coming in a world-class
professional athlete field that included past champions in Kenya's Mary
Keitany and Edna Kiplagat.
"Shalane's emotional victory at the TCS New York City Marathon last month
put an exclamation point on an incredible year for professional athletes
competing in New York Road Runners races," said Peter Ciaccia, president of
events for New York Road Runners and race director of the TCS New York City
Marathon. "Not only did her performance across the five boroughs make a
permanent impact on American long-distance running, but it demonstrated the
type of tenacious spirit that can galvanize an entire city and country when
needed most. By far, this was more than an athletic accomplishment. It was
a defining moment in New York City's history."
Flanagan was honored on Monday for her historic victory with a presentation
at the NYRR RUNCENTER, where a permanent display to honor her win was
unveiled on the NYRR History Wall.
Her journey to the TCS New York City Marathon start line as an NYRR Team
for Kids Ambassador began in August, when she joined NYRR for the Percy
Sutton Harlem 5K race. She took part in the event as a Race Buddy for
NYRR's Run for the Future program, which empowers young women entering
their senior year of high school to learn about running while building
self-esteem and confidence, developing leadership skills, and training to
complete a 5K run.
Among the more than 4,800 finishers in the 5K were 85 rising high school
senior girls, including Flanagan's Race Buddy, Mackenzie Morrison, from
Uncommon Charter High School in Brooklyn. Morrison presented Flanagan with
the NYRR Pro Performer of the Year award at the NYRR RUNCENTER.
"It was great having Shalane as a New York Road Runners Team for Kids
Ambassador at the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K this year," said Michael Capiraso,
president and CEO of New York Road Runners. "It made the event extra
special for our Run for the Future participants, and a day they will never
forget. There's nothing better than one of our sport's all-time greats
inspiring the next generation of runners, and that sunny August day would
go on to serve as the perfect prelude to one of American distance running's
most iconic moments at the TCS New York City Marathon."
The professional athlete finalists for the award were chosen by an NYRR
selection committee based on their performances at NYRR races in 2017.
Online voting by the public on NYRR's Blog accounted for 50 percent of the
final tally, while members of the media will account for the other 50
percent.
The other finalists for the award included: Ethiopia's Mamitu Daska,
Netherlands' Sifan Hassan, USA's Molly Huddle, Switzerland's Marcel Hug,
Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor, Kenya's Mary Keitany, Switzerland's Manuela
Schar, USA's Jenny Simpson, and New Zealand's Nick Willis.
The athletes were chosen based off their performances at the following NYRR
races: NYRR Wanamaker Mile (February 11), United Airlines NYC Half (March
19), UAE Healthy Kidney 10K (April 9), NYRR New York Mini 10K (June 10),
New Balance 5th Avenue Mile (September 10), Abbott Dash to the Finish Line
5K and USATF 5K Championships (November 4), and TCS New York City Marathon
(November 5).
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
Founded in 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club
to the world's premier community running organization, whose mission is to
help and inspire people through running. NYRR's commitment to New York
City's five boroughs features races, community events, youth running
initiatives, school programs, and training resources that provide hundreds
of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the
motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR's premier
event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City
Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features
50,000 runners, from the world's top professional athletes to a vast range
of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit
nyrr.org.
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