Meb Keflezighi at the 2011 New York Marathon (© Getty Images)
Three of the most accomplished US long-distance runners – Meb Keflezighi, Ryan Hall, and Kara Goucher – will run the 2013 ING New York City Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on 3 November.
The trio will lead a group of highly competitive US athletes who are the first official entrants for this year’s elite field. Keflezighi, Hall, and Goucher are among six US Olympians confirmed so far, along with Julie Culley, Amy Hastings and Janet Bawcom.
Additional US men announced for the race include two-time fourth-place Boston Marathon finisher Jason Hartmann, last year’s eighth-fastest US marathoner Ryan Vail, and 2013 World Championships team member Jeffrey Eggleston.
Other top US women include 2012 US Olympic Trials 10,000m fifth-place finisher Alisha Williams, 2013 US Half-marathon champion Adriana Nelson, and Mattie Suver, the top US finisher at the 2013 New York Mini 10K.
“Running the ING New York City Marathon is always a great pleasure and honour for me,” says 38-year-old Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist and 2009 New York Marathon champion. “This year’s race will be extra special because of the cancellation last year. As always, I will train and run to win.”
“I have one goal in mind for this year’s ING New York City Marathon: redemption – restore what has been lost,” said Hall, who ran 2:04:58 at the 2011 Boston Marathon. “I have had my fair share of struggles since qualifying for the 2012 London Olympic Marathon; however, those struggles are now behind me and the lessons learned are paving the path to what I hope is a very redemptive ING New York City Marathon.”
“I’m so excited to be returning to the ING New York City Marathon,” said Goucher, who finished third at the 2008 New York Marathon in 2:25:33, the fastest ever debut by a US woman. “So much in my life has changed during the five years since I last ran this race, but my love for NYC remains the same; it feels like a full-circle moment to return to NYC, where my marathon career began and to return with my son.”
Organisers for the IAAF
Elite US fields (with PBs)
Men
Ryan Hall (2:04:58)
Meb Keflezighi (2:09:08)
Jason Hartmann (2:11:06)
Ryan Vail (2:11:45)
Jeff Eggleston (2:12:03)
Women
Kara Goucher (2:24:52)
Amy Hastings (2:27:03)
Adriana Nelson (2:28:52)
Janet Bawcom (2:29:45)
Alisha Williams (2:34:58)
Mattie Suver (2:50:23)
Julie Culley (debut)
