FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Defending Champions Shalane Flanagan, Geoffrey Kamworor,
Manuela Schär, and Marcel Hug to Return to
TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4
Flanagan looks to repeat after becoming the first U.S. woman in 40 years to
win the open division at the world's largest marathon
New York, August 14, 2018 - Reigning champions Shalane Flanagan of the
United States, Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya, and Manuela Schär, and Marcel
Hug of Switzerland will return to defend their TCS New York City Marathon
titles on Sunday, November 4.
At last year's race, Flanagan became the first U.S. woman to win the open
division in New York since Miki Gorman did so in 1977, while Kamworor
claimed his first major marathon victory in the men's open division, and
Hug and Schär both won their fourth major marathon victories of the year
with a Swiss sweep of the wheelchair division.
"Last year was one for the ages, with Shalane making history, Geoffrey
having a breakthrough race, and Manuela and Marcel becoming the first
winning pair from the same country to sweep the wheelchair division," said
Peter Ciaccia, president of events for NYRR and race director of the TCS
New York City Marathon. "We are excited to have all four of our TCS New
York City Marathon champions - Shalane, Geoffrey, Manuela, and Marcel -
returning to defend their titles at the world's largest marathon. Together,
this group of all-time greats will headline our professional athlete races
and lead the 50,000-plus runners behind them as they thrill the more than 1
million spectators that line the course. We can fully expect another
electrifying race this year."
Flanagan, 37, ended a 40-year drought for American women in the open
division at the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon by seizing the crown from
Kenya's Mary Keitany with a time of 2:26:53. With her first victory in just
her second appearance at the New York City Marathon - she was runner-up in
her marathon debut in 2010 - Flanagan became the sixth U.S. women's
champion in the event and recorded the second-fastest time by a U.S. woman
at the event. The 16-time national champion and Olympic silver medalist
will be racing again this year as an NYRR Team for Kids Ambassador. She is
also an avid supporter of 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. In the women's open division,
Flanagan will join previously announced Des Linden, the 2018 Boston
Marathon champion, and Allie Kieffer, the fifth-place finisher at last
year's TCS New York City Marathon.
Kamworor, 25, claimed his first major marathon victory last year when he
held off compatriot Wilson Kipsang down the final turns in Central Park.
The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon runner-up separated himself from the
field with a 4:31 penultimate mile to finish in 2:10:53. The Kenyan has won
the last three consecutive IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships and
placed 11th in the 10,000 meters at the Rio 2016 Olympics. He recorded
three consecutive sub-2:07 performances at the BMW Berlin Marathon from
2012-2014, with his 2012 race of 2:06:12 remaining his personal best.
Schär, 33, had finished as runner-up three years in New York before finally
taking the tape last year in 1:51:02 to end American Tatyana McFadden's
streak of four consecutive victories at the event. The win gave her a
fourth major marathon victory of the year, adding to her wins in Boston,
London, and Berlin. Schär is a three-time Paralympic medalist and four-time
European champion who has already won the Tokyo Marathon and Abbott World
Marathon Majors Series XI titles this year.
Hug, 32, won his second consecutive and third overall New York City
Marathon title last year in a time of 1:37:21. The victory also marked his
fourth major win of the year, having already won in Boston, Berlin, and
Chicago. Hug has been the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Series
champion the last two years and already won the Boston Marathon earlier
this year. He is an eight-time Paralympic medalist with 16 career major
marathon titles to his name.
Quotes from defending champions on returning to the TCS New York City
Marathon:
"When I think about returning to race in New York City, I'm flooded with
magical memories. My heart skips a beat, I get butterflies in my stomach,
and my palms get sweaty. New York City is incredibly special to me. It's
where I ran my first marathon in 2010, placing second, and of course, my
dream come true moment in 2017 when I won the TCS New York City Marathon.
I'm thrilled to have the opportunity, support, passion, and health to
defend my title in 2018. I hope everyone preparing enjoys their journey to
the start line and I look forward to celebrating with all the runners at
the finish line on November 4th."
-Shalane Flanagan
"Racing once more in the TCS New York City Marathon means so much to me. It
is my favorite race, and although thousands of miles separate my training
base in Kaptagat, Kenya to New York, the event feels like home. I say that
because of the friendly nature of the event, the terrific organization and
also because of the warmth I feel from the many thousands of supporters
lining the route."
-Geoffrey Kamworor
"Last November, a dream came true for me. Winning the TCS New York City
Marathon was one of the biggest achievements of my career. I am very
excited to return to the streets of this amazing city. I feel fully fit
again and will try my best to defend my title."
- Manuela Schär
"It's always a great pleasure to come back and participate in the TCS New
York City Marathon. It's a fantastic and very prestigious marathon with a
special atmosphere and excellent organization. I will prepare my best to
defend my title."
-Marcel Hug
The TCS New York City Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors,
a series made up of the world's six largest and most renowned road races -
the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, Bank of America Chicago, and TCS
New York City Marathons. Points are allocated to the top five finishers in
each race, with the top three men's and women's finishers in both the open
and wheelchair divisions earning prize money.
The 2018 TCS New York City Marathon will be televised live on Sunday,
November 4, on WABC-TV, Channel 7 in the New York tristate area from 9:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET, and for the rest of the nation on ESPN2 from 9:00
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.
About the TCS New York City Marathon
The TCS New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world and the
signature event of New York Road Runners (NYRR), the world's premier
community running organization. The race is held annually on the first
Sunday of November and includes over 50,000 runners, from the world's top
professional athletes to runners of all ages and abilities, including over
9,000 charity runners. Participants from approximately 140 countries tour
the diverse neighborhoods of New York City's five boroughs—Staten Island,
Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. Race morning also features the
Rising New York Road Runners Youth Invitational at the TCS New York City
Marathon, a race within Central Park that finishes at the same finish line
being crossed hours later by the marathon field. More than one million
spectators and 10,000 volunteers line the city's streets in support of the
runners, while millions more watch the globally televised broadcast. Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting, and
business solutions organization, is the premier partner of NYRR and the
title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon. The 48th running of the
TCS New York City Marathon is set for November 4, 2018. To learn more,
visit www.tcsnycmarathon.org.
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