News23 Sep 2008


Smith, Wami and Tune line up for New York

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Dire Tune's breakthrough in Boston (© Getty Images)

New York, USAFirsttime marathoner Kim Smith of New Zealand and experienced Ethiopians Gete Wami and Dire Tune will compete at the ING New York City Marathon 2008 on Sunday 2 November. The event is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Also announced was Russian Lyubov Morgunova, 37, who won the 2008 Rotterdam Marathon in a personal-best time of 2:25:12, and the 36-year-old Briton Hayley Haining, who set a personal record of 2:29:18 in the London marathon earlier this year.

These five leading ladies join the previously announced United States Olympian and World Championship 10,000m bronze medallist, Kara Goucher, who will be making her much anticipated marathon debut in the final race of the 2007-08 World Marathon Majors Series.

A two-time Olympian, Smith, 26, is one of New Zealand’s finest distance runners, holding seven New Zealand national records. Only two Kiwis have won the New York City Marathon: Allison Roe in 1981, setting a world best time of 2:25:29, and Rod Dixon in 1983, running in 2:08:59.

“We Kiwis have a great distance running tradition and I would love to enhance this tradition in New York City on Nov 2,” Smith said. “I have always wanted to run the marathon distance and now is the right time for me. I am really excited to run my debut marathon at the ING New York City marathon.”

Wami, 37, is the reigning World Marathon Majors series champion and was runner-up to Paula Radcliffe at last year’s ING New York City Marathon. She is a two-time Berlin Marathon champion (2006-07). She holds the Ethiopian national record in the marathon and has won three Olympic medals (silver, 10,000m, 2000; bronze, 5000m, 2000; bronze, 10,000m 1996).

Tune, 23, is the 2008 Boston Marathon champion and two-time winner and course-record holder of the Chevron Houston Marathon. She represented Ethiopia in the Olympic Games this year in the marathon.

NYRR

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