New York, USA - Two-time defending champion Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia and last year’s surprise champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil will both return to defend their titles at the ING New York City Marathon 2007 on Sunday, 4 November.

In his ING New York City Marathon debut last year, Gomes, 29, beat a world class field that included World record holder and defending champion Paul Tergat, Olympic gold medallist Stefano Baldini, 2004 champion Hendrick Ramaala, and Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi. It was a major upset victory taken in a time of 2:09:58.

“Becoming the first Brazilian and the first South American to win in New York last year was the greatest moment of my running career,” said Gomes. “It was truly gratifying to see the incredible excitement and acclaim that my win generated back home.

“I know that to repeat as champion in 2007 will not be easy, but I learned last year that I can run with, and defeat, any of the world’s top marathoners. I know that I will not have the element of surprise on my side this year, so I must be prepared to run much faster than ever before.”

Prokopcuka, 30, took a commanding lead during the 2006 race and won her second consecutive ING New York City Marathon in 2:25:05 triumphing over a deep women’s professional field that included American record-holder Deena Kastor and Kenyans Rita Jeptoo, Catherine Ndereba, and Susan Chepkemei.

Prokopcuka is bidding to become the first three-peat champion since 1986. Already she is one of only five women to win two or more consecutive ING New York City Marathons.

“This race excites me very much because if I win, I’ll become the second woman after Grete Waitz to win the ING New York City Marathon three times in a row,” said Prokopcuka. “This can make me a legend.”

Prokopcuka sits atop the World Marathon Majors series leaderboard. A win in New York in November would very likely make her the champion of the first two-year WMM series and net her half of the $1 million jackpot prize. Prokopcuka finished second at the BAA Boston Marathon in both 2006 and 2007. She was in New York in June of this year to compete in the NYRR New York Mini 10K, where she finished fifth in 32:26.

NYRR