New York City Marathon

New York City Marathon News

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator
USATF Road Running Information Center

NEW YORK BOUND - After a three year layoff during which she had sons Eamon
and Martin, former London and New York City Marathon champion Liz McColgan
announced her intentions to make a comeback later this year at the NYC
Marathon. "I'm not saying I'm going to run 2:20 but I am fit and want to
prove to myself I can still compete at the top level," McColgan, 36, said at
a news conference last week in London where the 1996 London Marathon winner and the last Briton to
win the race was honored with past champions. "I am still running 85 miles
and the desire is still there." It would be fitting for McColgan to return
to competition at the NYC Marathon. At the 1991 NYC Marathon, just months after
having her daughter Eilish, McColgan made a triumphant marathon debut by
backing up her bold pre-race predication of victory to upset Joan Benoit
Samuelson and Lisa Ondieki. McColgan has not lost any of her confidence. "I
might have been away but when I take the start line I will still go out
there believing I can win because this is me," McColgan said of the Nov. 4 race.

FIRST IN NEW YORK AND LONDON - By winning the London Marathon last week,
Abdelkader El Mouaziz of Morocco became the first man to hold the London and
New York City Marathon crowns at the same time. Last November, El Mouaziz
pulled away from the field before the 10 mile mark to win his first NYC
Marathon (2:10:09) in convincing fashion. Last week, El Mouaziz waited until
around the 22 mile mark to make his move to win his second London crown
(2:07:11) in three years. Two women have won both marathons in the same year
- Grete Waitz in 1983 and '86 and Wanda Panfil in 1990...Five-time world
cross champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist at the 10,000m, Paul
Tergat of Kenya felt like a winner after finishing second at the London
Marathon in his eagerly anticipated marathon debut. "This was a great day
for me," said Tergat. "I am very positive about the marathon now."

Abraham Weintraub, 91, of Brooklyn, New York, was the oldest finisher at the
London Marathon in 7:37:41, a U.S. single age record. At last year's NYC
Marathon, Weintraub set a 90-94 age group world record of 7:25:12.

For more information on the New York City Marathon, the 2001 USA Men's and
Women's Championship, contact Richard Finn at (212) 423-2229 or visit the
race website at: http://www.nycmarathon.org

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