The Men’s Field
The 2005 New York City Marathon will feature a strong field, with a number of runners who could break into the top three. The men’s race features one of the strongest international fields ever assembled – one that Paul Tergat described as comparable to an Olympic field in both caliber and international makeup. In attendance at Sunday’s event will be last year’s winner (Hendrick Ramaala, who was also third in London this year); last year’s runner-up (Meb Keflezighi); world-record holder Paul Tergat; the 2005 London Marathon winner, Martin Lel (who also won New York in 2003); the 2005 Boston Marathon winner, Hailu Negussie; the NYC Marathon record holder (from 2001…Tesfaye Jifar); as well as another four or five that might findi it in their legs to come across the finish line in first place – this is a great field.

Can we make a prediction? Well, we shouldn’t – this is too hard to call, but we always do. Paul Tergat has not put in an outstanding performance since his world record in Berlin, he’s got to be hungry and New York is the perfect venue to prove his stuff – we’ll go with the world record holder on Sunday… Last year the women’s world record-holder beat the New York field, this year it will be the men’s world-record holder…

The Women’s Field
Oh, it’s hard to find a strong women’s field… Featuring the most handsome award for a win in marathoning history: $130,000 ($30,000 more than for the male winner!), New York has attracted a strong field, although nowhere as deep as the men’s field. Unable to attract Deena Kastor who opted for a fast time at Chicago this year, New York’s field will likely feature a duel between Lornah Kiplagat and the 2004 runner-up, Susan Chepkemei. Also in contention will be Jelena Prokopcuka who ran a 2:22:56 in Osaka at the beginning of the year and thus the fastest time in the field, despite finishing only fifth in New York in 2004. Our prediction: Lornah Kiplagat – ready to fight and win this one.

Elite Athlete Information follows. Click on an athlete’s name to review their top all-time performances. Hover over “History” to see past NYC Marathon performances.

Male Elite Athletes
Athlete	Country	Bib	Marathon PR	NYC
Hendrick Ramaala	South Africa	1	2:08:32, London, 2005	History
Meb Keflezighi	United States	2	2:09:53, New York City, 2004	History
Paul Tergat	Kenya	3	2:04:55 (world record), Berlin, 2003	History
Patrick Tambwe	Congo	4	2:08:55, Mont St. Michel, 2004	History
Christopher Cheboiboch	Kenya	6	2:08:17, New York City, 2002	History
John Kagwe	Kenya	7	2:08:12, New York City, 1997	History
Martin Lel	Kenya	8	2:07:26, London, 2005	History
Ryan Shay	United States	9	2:14:08, New York City , 2004	History
Viktor Roethlin	Switzerland	10	2:09:56, Zurich, 2004	History
Jon Brown	Great Britain	11	2:09:31, London, 2005	History
Robert Cheboror	Kenya	12	2:06:23, Amsterdam, 2004	History
Abdi Abdirahman	United States	14	2:17:09, New York City, 2004	History
Mark Carroll	Ireland	15	2:10:54, New York City, 2002	History
Tesfaye Jifar	Ethiopia	16	2:06:49, Amsterdam, 1999	History
Antonio Pena	Spain	17	2:07:34, Otsu , 2001	History
Hailu Negussie	Ethiopia	18	2:08:16, Hofu, 2002	History
James Kibocha Theury	Kenya	19	2:14:05, Paris, 2005	History
Gert Thys	South Africa	20	2:06:33, Tokyo, 1999	History
John Mayock	Great Britain	21	1:03:27 (half-marathon), Newcastle, 2005	History
Alberico Di Cecco	Italy	22	2:08:02, Rome, 2005	History
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot	Kenya	23	2:08:59, Milan, 2002	History
Frederick Cherono	Kenya	24	2:08:38, Turin, 2004	History
Daniel Cheribo Kiplagat	Kenya	25	2:08:38, Milan, 2004	History
Matt Downin	United States	27	2:18:48, New York City, 2003	History
Isaac Macharia	Kenya	28	2:10:09, Nagano, 2005	History
Peter Gilmore	United States	29	2:14:02, Sacramento, 2004	History
Chris Graff	United States	31	2:18:44, Birmingham, 2003	History
Kassahun Kabiso	Ethiopia	35	2:15:40, Vancouver, 2005	History
Abraham Assefa	Ethiopia	36	2:13:16, New York City, 2000	History
Mark Saina	Kenya	71	2:09:00, Turin, 2000	History
Female Elite Athletes:
Susan Chepkemei	Kenya	F2	2:23:12, London, 2003	History
Lyubov Denisova	Russia	F3	2:25:18, New York City, 2004	History
Jelena Prokopcuka	Latvia	F5	2:22:56, Osaka, 2005	History
Bruna Genovese	Italy	F6	2:25:35, Tokyo, 2001	History
Lornah Kiplagat	Netherlands	F7	2:22:22, Osaka, 2002	History
Nuta Olaru	Romania	F8	2:24:33, Chicago, 2004	History
Lyudmila Petrova	Russia	F9	2:22:33, London, 2002	History
Jennifer Rhines	United States	F10	2:29:57, St. Louis, 2004	History
Lidiya Grigoryeva	Russia	F12	2:27:01, Paris, 2005	History
Marie Davenport	Ireland	F14	1:10:57 (half-marathon), Boston, 2003	History
Selina Kosgei	Kenya	F15	2:24:32, Paris, 2004	History
Getenesh Wami	Ethiopia	F16	2:22:19, Amsterdam, 2002	History
Oleysa Nurgalyeva	Russia	F17	2:29:48, Frankfurt, 2004	History
Yelena Nurgalyeva	Russia	F18	2:29:49, Frankfurt, 2004	History
Malgorzata Sobanska	Poland	F19	2:26:08, Chicago, 2001	History
Dulce Maria Rodríguez	Mexico	F20	2:29:00, Torreón, 2005	History
Zoila Gómez	United States	F23	32:47.31 (10,000 meters), Walnut, California, 2002	History
Leteyesus Berhe	Ethiopia	F25	2:43:00, New York City, 2001	History
Derartu Tulu	Ethiopia	F32	2:23:30, Helsinki, 2005	History