Catherine Ndereba of Kenya celebrates winning the women's marathon (© Getty Images)
Kenya's Catherine Ndereba the recently crowned World Marathon champion, will return to 'Big Apple' for the 2003 New York City Marathon on November 2, as confirmed by Race Director and New York Road Runners president Allen Steinfeld.
"Winning the New York City marathon is my immediate ambition, having come second there in 1999," said Ndereba clocked 2:27:34 in her first marathon on that occasion.
The 31-year-old from Kenya, captured gold at the World Championships in Paris on August 31, in a championship record of 2:23:55 in a race in which a 'record' 14 runners broke 2:30.
Ndereba who is the second fastest runner of all time - 2:18:47 African record in 2001 - has already won both the other two gems of the US marathon calendar, Chicago and Boston twice (2000 and 2001).
Announced on the start list for the men's race is Spain's World Championships silver medallist Julio Rey who will be making his debut in New York. Earlier this year, Rey, 31, won the Hamburg Marathon in a course record and personal best 2:07:27.
AFP
