NYC Marathon

U.S. OLYMPIAN CLARK AND DE REUCK ADDED TO NYC MARATHON* FIELD

NEW YORK, July 17 - Christine Clark, the only American woman in the 2000 Olympic Marathon, and Colleen De Reuck, a recently naturalized American citizen and veteran marathoner, will run in the 2001 New York City Marathon® that will also serve as the United States Men's and Women's National Marathon Championships.

Race Director Allan Steinfeld made the announcement today along with those of Kim Pawelek and Susannah Beck, who both finished in the top 10 in last year's U.S. Olympic Trials race. America's leading female distance runner Deena Drossin was previously announced as making her marathon debut at this year's NYC Marathon, which will be held on Sunday, Nov. 4. Clark, Pawelek and Beck will also be making their NYC Marathon debuts. De Reuck will be returning to the race for the third time. The last time De Reuck ran, in 1997, she placed second.

"Beginning with Drossin and now with Clark, De Reuck, Pawelek and Beck, we have put together one of the strongest fields of American women runners ever," said Steinfeld.

Clark, a 37 year-old pathologist from Anchorage, was the surprise winner of the U.S. Olympic Trials race last year in Columbia, S.C. In the final miles of a very hilly course, on an uncomfortably hot day, she came from behind to score a stunning upset and earn a trip to Sydney. Clark shaved off seven minutes from her personal best to win in 2:33:31. Clark was not done surprising the running community as she turned in another strong effort to finish 19th in the Olympics, again lowering her personal best to 2:31:35.

A long-time South African star, De Reuck, 37, was granted U.S. citizenship at the end of 2000. Throughout her long career, De Reuck has been a winner at the marathon, on the roads, on the track and in cross-country. She won the Berlin Marathon in 1996 in a personal best of 2:26:35, finished in the top five at the Boston Marathon three times (1997, 1998, 1999) and finished ninth at the 1992 Olympic Marathon. Her best showing at the NYC Marathon came in 1997 when she finished second (2:29:11) to Franziska Rochat-Moser of Switzerland (2:28:43).

Beck, 33, of Eugene, OR., was fourth at the 2000 Olympic Marathon Trials (2:36:46). She had made her marathon debut by finishing ninth at the 1999 Twin Cities Marathon (2:38:51).

Pawelek, 27, who resides in Port Charlotte, Fla, has taken a most unique road to become one of this country's most promising young marathoners. Pawelek was just 15 months old when she, her sister and their parents were airlifted out of Saigon during the American departure from Vietnam. Pawelek did not start running until her senior year of high school and quickly established herself as a marathoner by wining the 1999 Twin Cities Marathon in 2:37:56. At the 2000 Olympic Marathon Trials she finished seventh (2:39:16).

More than $100,000 in prize money and race incentive bonuses is being offered exclusively for the national championships. American runners will also be eligible to compete for prize money from the general marathon prize money pool of $514,000, including $15,000 for the top U.S. Champion man and woman. The first place prize money of $80,000 will be doubled if an American wins the race.