Runner's & Triathlete's Web (RWire) Athletics: ING New York City Marathon 2008 Draws Stellar Field for 39th Edition

Radcliffe to defend title; Olympic and World Championship medalists, past champions return to famed five borough race; guaranteed prize purse exceeds $600,000; World Marathon Majors finale

The ING New York City Marathon - set for Sunday, November 2 - again has drawn a deep international field including defending women's champion and world record holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain as well as recent race champions Marilson Gomes dos Santos, Paul Tergat and Hendrick Ramaala, two-time Olympic silver medalist Catherine Ndereba and the 2007 women's race runner-up Gete Wami.

The large U.S. contingent is led by three-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman and 2008 Olympian and 2007 World Championships 10,000 meter bronze medalist Kara Goucher who is making her anticipated marathon debut in the hometown of her birth (Queens).

The guaranteed prize purse for the 39th edition totals more than $600,000 with at least $130,000 to each men's and women's race champion. There are also time bonuses - up to a maximum of $70,000.

For the second consecutive year, the ING New York City Marathon will determine the World Marathon Majors Series women's champion with three women - reigning WMM Series champion Gete Wami of Ethiopia (65 points), Irina Mikitenko of Germany (65 pts) and Catherine Ndereba of Kenya (41 pts) still in contention for the $500,000 WMM champion's purse. Martin Lel of Kenya has already clinched the men's 2007-08 WMM title with 76 points. Complete WMM Series leaderboards and more can be found at: WorldMarathonMajors.com

NBC Sports will broadcast a one-hour highlights show nationwide beginning at 3:00pm EST on Sunday, November 2. The Universal Sports TV Network will also air the race live from 9:00am EST on their digital network (go to: UniversalSports.com). A 3-hour broadcast will be replayed beginning at 9:00pm.

ING New York City Marathon 2008 Professional Field
MEN
BIB# / Athlete / CTZ / Age / PR and race / Sponsor
2, Goumri, Abderrahim, MAR, 32, 2:05:30, London, 2008, Nike
3, Ramaala, Hendrick, Johannesburg, RSA, 36, 2:06:55, London, 2006, adidas
4, Gomes dos Santos, Marilson, BRA, 31, 2:08:37, London, 2007, Pão de Açucar / Nike
5, Tergat, Paul, Nairobi, KEN, 39, 2:04:55, Berlin, 2003, Nike
6, Abdirahman, Abdi, Tucson, AZ, USA, 31, 2:08:56, Chicago, 2006, Nike
7, Rono, Daniel, KEN, 30, 2:06:58, Rotterdam, 2008, adidas
8, Kirui, Abel, KEN, 26, 2:06:51, Berlin, 2007,
9, Kigen, Wilfred, KEN, 33, 2:07:33, Hamburg, 2007, ASICS
10, Rotich, Hosea, KEN, 29, 2:07:24, Paris, 2008, Nike
11, Macharia, Isaac, KEN, 27, 2:07:16, Dubai, 2008, adidas
12, Bouramdane, Abderrahime, MAR, 30, 2:08:20, Seoul, 2007, adidas
14, Lehmkuhle, Jason, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 31, 2:12:54, Olympic Trials, 2008, ASICS
15, Cheboiwyo, Boaz, Boulder, CO, KEN, 30, 1:01:35, San Jose, 2008, Nike
16, Rohatinsky, Josh, Portland, OR, USA, 26, 2:15:22, Olympic Trials, 2007, Nike
17, Jenkins, Nate, Lowell, MA, USA, 28, 2:14:56, Olympic Trials, 2008, Saucony
18, Asmerom, Bolota, San Francisco, CA, USA, 30, 13:15.16, Heusden, 2007, Oregon Track Club
19, Carney, James, Boulder, CO, USA, 30, 2:16:54, Olympic Trials, 2007, New Balance
20, Sundell, Steve, Redwood City, CA, USA, 26, 2:16:54, Olympic Trials, 2007, NYAC
21, Humphrey, Luke, Rochester, MI, USA, 27, 2:15:22, Chicago, 2006, Hansons
22, Frey, Jacob, Oakton, VA, USA, 27, 2:16:44, Pan Am Games, 2007, Saucony
23, Nuci, Miguel, Turlock, CA, USA, 29, 2:15:34, Cal Int'l, 2006, adidas Transports
24, Hailegiorgis, Dereje Tesfaye, New York, NY, ETH, 32, 2:11:10, Hamburg, 2006, West Side Runners
25, Deneke, Teklu Tefera, New York, NY, ETH, 29, 2:12:05, Valencia, 2007, West Side Runners
26, Katayama, Toshiya, JPN, 35, 2:10:12, Lake Biwa, 2005, NTT West Japan
28, Graff, Chris, Crofton, MD, USA, 33, 2:18:45, Birmingham, 2003, ASICS
29, Kabiso, Kassahun, Bronx, NY, ETH, 25, 2:14:59, Sacramento, 2006, Westchester TC
30, Tufa, Genna, Bronx, NY, ETH, 24, 2:19:14, Hartford, 2007, Westchester TC
31, Awol, Mohammed, Bronx, NY, ETH, 30, 2:17:15, Hartford, 2007, Westchester TC
32, Costello, Greg, Chicago, IL, USA, 27, 2:20:28, Olympic Trials, 2008, Nike Central Racing Team
33, Canady, Sage, Sheridan, OR, USA, 22, 2:21:43, Grandma's, 2007, Unattached
34, Wadsworth, Nate, Andover, KS, USA, 26, 2:21:51, Chicago, 2006, Kansas City Smoke/Brooks
35, Perez Nava, Tomas, Toluca, MEX, 30, 2:22:00, Torreon, 2008, UAEM
36, Beyi, Worku, Bronx, NY, ETH, 21, 2:26:13, New York, 2006, Westchester TC
37, Deniboba, Deresse, Bronx, NY, ETH, 26, 2:27:20, Mystic, 2006, Westchester TC
38, Gapak, Edvard, Brooklyn, NY, UKR, 25, 2:28:04, New York, 2007, Warren Street
39, Liuzzo, Antonino, Scicli, ITA, 29, 2:16:32, Merengo, 2003, Cover Mapei
41, Krzyscin, Andrzej, Gniezno, POL, 41, 2:12:10, Austin, 2002, ALTOM Gniezno
42, Lawson, Jerry, LaBelle, FL, USA, 42, 2:09:35, Chicago, 1997
43, Kaledin, Sergey, Ufa, RUS, 40, 2:12:14, Lyon, 1997, Foot Solutions Team
53, Jones, Steve, Boulder, CO, GBR, 53, 2:07:13, Chicago, 1985, Reebok
58, Dixon, Rod, Los Angeles, CA, NZL, 58, 2:08:59, New York, 1983
61, Rudyk, Mykola, New York, NY, UKR, 34, 2:12:29, Lyon, 1998, Warren Street
62, Holovnytskyy, Oleksander, New York, NY, UKR, 33, 2:19:10, Kiev, 2007, Warren Street
63, Mintzlaff, Oliver, Aspach, GER, 33, 1:04:35, Xanten, 1999, LG Bonn Trosidorf
65, Henwood, John, New York, NY, NZL, 36, 2:15:05, New York, 2005, NYAC

WOMEN
BIB# / Athlete / CTZ / Age / PR and race / Sponsor
1, Radcliffe, Paula, Monte Carlo, GBR, 34, 2:15:25, London, 2003, Nike
2, Wami, Gete, Addis Ababa, ETH, 33, 2:21:34, Berlin, 2006, Nike
3, Ndereba, Catherine, Nairobi, KEN, 36, 2:18:47, Chicago, 2001, Nike
4, Tune, Dire, Addis Ababa, ETH, 23, 2:24:40, Houston, 2008, Nike
5, Jeptoo, Rita, KEN, 27, 2:23:38, Boston, 2006, adidas
6, Morgunova, Lyubov, RUS, 37, 2:25:12, Rotterdam, 2008,
7, Goucher, Kara, Portland, OR, USA, 30, 1:06:57, Newcastle, 2007, Nike
8, Smith, Kim, Providence, RI, NZL, 26, 30:35.54 NR, Palo Alto, 2008, Reebok
9, Simon, Lidia, ROU, 35, 2:22:54, Osaka, 2000, New Balance
11, Haining, Hayley, Glasgow, GBR, 36, 2:29:18, London, 2008, ASICS
12, Lewy Boulet, Magdalena, Oakland, CA, USA, 35, 2:30:19, Olympic Trials, 2008, Saucony
14, McGregor, Katie, St. Louis Park, MN, USA, 31, 2:32:36, New York, 2006, Reebok
15, Hasell, Lucy, London, GBR, 30, 2:36:28, Austin, 2008, Bristol and West AC
16, Friedman, Robyn, Lambs Grove, IA, USA, 35, 2:35:02, Olympic Trials, 2008, Iowa's RunABlaze
17, Loroupe, Tegla, KEN, 35, 2:20:43, Berlin, 1999
19, Meyerhoff, Sally, Scottsdale, AZ, USA, 24, 2:39:39, Olympic Trials, 2008, Sole Sports/Skirt Sports
20, Christian, Melisa, Dallas, TX, USA, 32, 2:41:18, Olympic Trials, 2008, Unattached
21, Eap, Sopagna, Johns Island, SC, USA, 27, 2:40:19, Olympic Trials, 2008, Brooks
22, Dean, Abby, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 37, 2:41:25, Olympic Trials, 2008, PRTC/Puma
23, Bjune, Caroline, Andover, MA, USA, 34, 2:42:02, Olympic Trials, 2008, Merrimack Valley Striders / adidas Racing Team
24, Asfaw, Atalelech, Bronx, NY, ETH, 25, 2:42:14, Salt Lake City, 2008, Westchester Track Club
25, Ganushina, Victoria, Brooklyn, NY, UKR, 28, 2:42:50, New York, 2006
26, Gacek, Melissa, White Bear Lake, MN, USA, 32, 2:44:10, Olympic Trials, 2008, Run N Fun
28, Daly, Megan, Menlo Park, CA, USA, 29, 2:44:51, Olympic Trials, 2008, Impala Racing Team
29, Martin, Clare, London, GBR, 32, 2:51:08, London, 2008, Wells City Harriers Athletic Club
30, Paulson, Ilsa, Flagstaff, AZ, USA, 19, 1:13:22, NYC Half, 2008, Unattached
31, Bierbaum, Caroline, New York, NY, USA, 25, 3:01:00, Chicago, 2007, NYAC
32, Kotu, Meseret, Bronx, NY, ETH, 26, 2:30:26, Amsterdam, 2002, West Side Runners
33, Gleeson, Abbi, New York, NY, USA, 27, 2:52:30, Chicago, 2006, NYAC
34, Janosikova, Katarina, Richmond Hill, NY, SVK, 28, 1:18:21, Philadelphia, 2008, Running Divas New York
35, Graf, Stephanie, Völkermarkt, AUT, 35, Debut, N/A, LCC Wien
36, Mayger, Eliza, Darwin, AUS, 36, 2:46:34, Sydney, 2007, Darwin Runners and Walkers Inc.
37, Wilding, Catherine, London, GBR, 37, 2:49:07, London, 2007, Serpentine Running Club
38, Luna, Silvia, Ancona, ITA, 30, 2:52:38, Venice, 2007, Grottini Team
39, Knowles, Laurie, Atlanta, GA, USA, 31, 2:44:03, Olympic Trials, 2008
40, Petrova, Ludmila, Cheboksary, RUS, 40, 2:21:29, London, 2006, adidas
41, Vasseur, Nathalie, Gouesnou, FRA, 43, 2:41:25, Paris, 2006, SDV BOHARS
42, Pieterse, Zola, RSA, 42, Debut
43, Fiacconi, Franca, Rome, ITA, 43, 2:25:17, New York, 1998, Unattached
44, McCallum, Michaela, Winchester, GBR, 42, 2:38:28, Firenze, 1999, Winchester and District Athletic Club
45, Hazlitt, Karen, Winchester, GBR, 41, 2:43:30, Amsterdam, 2006, Winchester & District
46, Trost, Eva Christina, Piding, GER, 40, 2:44:51, Berlin, 2007
47, Fernandez, Marta, Valencia, ESP, 47, 2:32:51, Rotterdam, 2001, Valencia Terra i Mar
48, Glockenmeier, Christine, Basking Ridge, NJ, USA, 40, 2:47:52, Twin Cities, 2005, Warren Street
49, Andreucci, Lucilla, Milan, ITA, 38, 2:29:43, Milano, 2000, C.S. Forestale

Find complete race information at: INGnycmarathon.org

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.