New York, USA - Kenyan Sammy Korir, who came close to setting a marathon world best time in Berlin last month when he finished a second behind compatriot Paul Tergat, has signed up to run in the New York Marathon next month. 

The 31-year-old Korir, pacemaker at the Berlin Marathon last
month, became an unexpected rival to fellow Kenyan Tergat, who eventually outsprinted him in the fastest race in history.

Tergat finished with 2:04:55, just one second ahead of Korir, shattering American Khalid Khannounchi's world best
time by 43 seconds. 

Korir who has been running under 2:09 for the Marathon every year since 1997, when he was third in Rotterdam in his previous personal best of 2:08:02, has already run three Marathons in 2003 -

He has a 2:10:44 clocking when coming second in Xiamen on 30 March, a fourth place showing in San Diego on 1 June (2:11:36), and his now legendary battle with Tergat in Berlin on 28 September (2:04:56). 
 
Korir's coach, Italian Gabriele Rosa, told New York Road Runners officials that his athlete would be ready to race.

"He is set to go, completely," said Rosa.

Race Director and New York Road Runners president and CEO
Allan Steinfeld said it was unusual for a top athlete to attempt
a second major marathon so soon. "It will be interesting and very exciting to see what happens."

This year's Boston Marathon winner, Robert Cheruiyot, also
of Kenya, has been forced to withdraw with a leg injury.

Reuters and IAAF