Lehmkuhle, Carney, Rohatinsky and McGregor also on the home "team" in the 39th running of the five-borough classic
NEW YORK - (September 30, 2008) - Three-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman and 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon runner-up Magdalena Lewy Boulet lead a strong line-up of American standouts in the ING New York City Marathon 2008 on Sunday, November 2, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO and race director Mary Wittenberg.
Jason Lehmkuhle, James Carney and Josh Rohatinsky, all of whom competed in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon in Central Park last year, were also announced, along with four-time USA champion and former NCAA cross country champion Katie McGregor. U.S. Olympian and IAAF World Championships 10,000 meter bronze medalist Kara Goucher was previously announced; she will be making her marathon debut.
"It's a star-spangled banner group of top Americans running New York this year," said Wittenberg. "They come to New York believing in themselves and knowing they belong on our biggest stage in marathon running. Abdi, Magdalena, Katie, Jason, James and Josh join Kara to make our most formidable team of Americans in years, with each a factor in his or her own right."
Abdirahman, 31, of Tucson, AZ, will be making his third appearance in New York after finishing 14th in his marathon debut in 2004 and fifth in 2005. A four-time USA champion at 10,000 meters, he qualified for his third Olympic team by winning the 10,000 meters at the 2008 Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field, and finished 15th in the event (27:52.53) at the Beijing Olympic Games.
"Everybody knows that New York is the race to run in the fall," said Abdirahman. "I know the competition will be really tough, but I'm going there to try to win it. That's how I always run."
Lewy Boulet, 35, of Oakland, CA, broke away from the field early and led for much of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon in Boston this past April before finishing second in 2 hours, 30 minutes, 19 seconds to make her first Olympic squad. She dropped out of the Olympic Games marathon in Beijing due to a knee injury sustained in the days leading up to the race. Lewy Boulet will be making her third appearance at the ING New York City Marathon after finishing 15th in 2006 in 2:42:38.
"I'm really excited to run this year's ING New York City Marathon," said Lewy Boulet. "After the disappointment of my injury in Beijing, I'm eager to get back out and prove myself against the world's best marathoners, and New York always has a stellar field. The city has always had a special place in my heart, and this race has gotten the best of me in the past. But I'm determined to run a great race this time."
McGregor, 31, of St. Louis Park, MN, made her marathon debut in the ING New York City Marathon 2006 and will be making her second marathon appearance on the streets of New York. She has finished fourth in the 10,000 meters in two Olympic Trials (2004, 2008), missing a spot on the team. McGregor finished runner-up at this past weekend's USA Women's 8K Championship in Akron, OH.
Lehmkuhle, 31, of Minneapolis, MN, finished fifth in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials last November and will represent the United States at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, which will be held in Brazil on October 12.
Carney, 30, of Boulder, CO, set a personal best of 2:16:54 in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He is the 2008 USA champion at 20K and the half-marathon.
Rohatinsky, 26, of Portland, OR, was the top marathon rookie at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, finishing ninth in 2:15:22. The 2006 NCAA cross country champion placed fifth in the U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000 meters.
For more information on the 39th edition, visit: INGnycmarathon.org.
The ING New York City Marathon also is one of five events in the World Marathon Majors series that showcases the sport's top athletes and awards an unprecedented $1 million champion's prize. The WMM series also includes the Boston Marathon, Flora London Marathon, real,- Berlin Marathon and Bank of America Chicago Marathon. For more information, visit: WorldMarathonMajors.com
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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