Two-time Olympian and American Record-holder Ryan Hall Announced on ING New York City Marathon Opening Day Presented by ASICS
New Zealand Olympian and decorated record-holder Kim Smith will also compete in 2012 ING New York City Marathon
Broadcast live from Columbus Circle on ABC7 and tv.nyrr.org, event features hosts Rob Powers and Carrie Tollefson and numerous special guests
More than 140,000 applications received for Sunday, November 4 race
New York, April 25, 2012ÛÓOn
ING New York City Marathon Opening Day Presented by ASICS, a powerhouse
pair of distance runnersÛÓU.S. MenÛªs Olympic Marathon team member Ryan
Hall and New Zealand Olympian Kim SmithÛÓwere announced as headlining the
field on Sunday, November 4. The announcement was made by New York Road
Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg on the broadcast from
Columbus Circle.
Seen live on ABC7 and tv.nyrr.org at
noon, the half-hour show was broadcast mere steps from the renowned
marathon course and hosted by ABC7 lead sports anchor Rob Powers and
Olympian Carrie Tollefson. The annual event featured a highly
anticipated special drawing of entrants for the race, along with
exciting prizes and giveaways to the live audience of several hundred.
Special guests included former Giants wide receiver and finisher of the
2010 ING New York City Marathon Amani Toomer, U.S. professional tennis
player James Blake, film and television actress Amy Yasbeck, and
internet sensation Zeddie Little, recently dubbed the ÛÏRidiculously
Photogenic Guy.Û
NYRR
officials anticipate more than 140,000 applicants, with 90,000 in the
non-guaranteed entry drawing for about 47,500 finishing spots. At the
end of the show, entrants will learn of their acceptance status on the tv.nyrr.org website.
ÛÏMarathon
Opening Day has become our annual launch to marathon season in New
YorkÛÓa real Û÷starting lineÛª celebration for the most global marathon,Û
said Wittenberg. ÛÏAs the peopleÛªs Olympics, itÛªs fitting that we have
Olympic stars Ryan and Kim hereÛÓour first pro athletes in the raceÛÓto
join us in todayÛªs festivities.Û
Hall,
29, of Big Bear Lake, CA, will be running the ING New York City
Marathon for the second time, after finishing fourth in 2009 in 2:10:36.
In January, he qualified for his second Olympic Games at the marathon
Trials. He won the 2008 Trials in New York City in November 2007 and
went on to finish 10th in the 2008 Beijing Games. At the 2011 Boston
Marathon, Hall took fourth place in a time of 2:04:58, the fastest ever
run by an American. In 2007, he became the only American to have broken
the one-hour barrier in the half-marathon when he ran 59:43 to win the
Aramco Houston Half-Marathon. In addition to the Olympic Trials, Hall
found success in New York when he won the 2006 USA Cross Country
Championships 12K, and also in his first appearance in the NYC Half in
2009, when he finished third.
ÛÏI
couldnÛªt be more excited to return to the ING New York City Marathon,Û
said Hall. ÛÏHaving raced the 2009 edition, I have fond memories of the
excitement of racing through the five boroughs with the best marathoners
in the world. IÛªve always said that racing in New York is performing on
the big stage. IÛªm also excited to be a part of Marathon Opening Day to
announce the first round of runners who will join me on the streets of
New York. What makes the marathon such an incredible event is being one
of 50,000 people who all have the same goal of conquering 26.2
challenging miles with the reward of the same finish line that awaits us
all.Û
Smith,
30, a native of Auckland who now lives in Providence, RI, will be
making her fourth appearance at the ING New York City Marathon: After
dropping out because of illness in 2008, she placed fifth in both 2010
and 2011. Smith recently finished second in the NYC Half 2012 in a time
1:08:43, after leading eventual winner Firehiwot Dado nearly the entire
race. She broke her own record for the fastest-ever half-marathon by a
woman on U.S. soil when she won the 2011 Rock ÛªnÛª Roll Philadelphia
Half-Marathon in 1:07:11. Smith holds 12 New Zealand records at
distances from the mile to the marathon.
ÛÏIÛªm
really looking forward to being part of the ING New York City Marathon
again this year,Û said Smith. ÛÏI feel like a regular now at NYRR events,
and coming back to race in New York is always an amazing experience.
IÛªm excited about being at Marathon Opening Day this year for the 2012
ING New York City Marathon. To be part of the start of all the
excitement, anticipation, and hype of the marathon is inspiring.Û
Also
announced at ING New York City Marathon Opening Day Presented by ASICS,
was the NY Giants Run of Champions 5K Presented by Walgreens. This
inaugural event will take place on Sunday, June 24 at MetLife Stadium
and will feature a 5K race, kidsÛª races and activities, and more. For
more information on all activities and to sign up for the race, visit nyrr.org.
About NYRR
New
York Road Runners was founded in 1958 when a small group of passionate
runners vowed to bring running to the people. Over the past 54 years,
NYRR has grown from a local running club to the worldÛªs premier
community running organization. NYRRÛªs mission is to empower everyone,
of all ages and abilitiesÛÓbeginners and competitive athletes, the young
and the elderly, adult professionals and underserved schoolchildrenÛÓto
improve their health and well-being through the power of running and
fitness.
NYRRÛªs
races, community events, instruction and training resources, and youth
programs give hundreds of thousands of people each year the motivation,
know-how, and opportunity to start running and keep running for life.
NYRRÛªs premier event, the famed ING New York City Marathon, attracts the
worldÛªs top pro runners and committed amateurs alike while also raising
millions of dollars annually for charity and driving economic impact
for the City. But NYRR is equally committed to the runners of tomorrow,
passionately providing youth fitness programs that educate and inspire
more than 100,000 kids in underserved communities in New York City, all
50 states, and around the world.
Headquartered
in New York City, NYRR implements a unique nonprofit model that teams
contributed and earned income to make all its efforts possible. To learn
more, please visit www.nyrr.org.
About the ING New York City Marathon
NYRRÛªs
premier event, the ING New York City Marathon is the most loved and
most inclusive marathon in the world, attracting elite athletes and
recreational runners alike for the challenge and thrill of a lifetime.
The race has grown tremendously since it began in 1970 with just 127
runners racing four laps of Central Park. Now, almost 50,000
participants from all over the globe flock to New York City every
November for an adrenaline-filled road tour of all five boroughs,
starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
and ending in Central Park. Some run for prize money or bragging rights,
others for charity or their personal best. All are cheered on by more
than two million live spectators and a TV audience of 330 million.