Tergat and Prokopcuka to attempt defence in New York

Paul Tergat of Kenya, the World record holder for the Marathon, who captured the ING New York City Marathon title last year in the closest finish in race history, and surprise winner of the women’s race Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia will return to the 2006 race on Sunday 5 November to defend their titles, it was announced today.

New York Road Runners president and CEO and race director Mary Wittenberg made the announcement at a special news conference in advance of the Golden Gala - IAAF Golden League - meeting in the Italian capital today. Wittenberg was joined by Tergat, while Prokopcuka is training in Switzerland and could not attend.

In his ING New York City Marathon debut last year, Tergat beat defending champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa by just one second, in a time of 2:09:30.

“Last year’s win by Paul was one for the ages, and he has forever etched his name in the rich history and tradition of the ING New York City Marathon,” said Wittenberg. “He comes back with high expectations on his shoulders to join a select group of back-to-back champions.”

Tergat, 37, is bidding to become the first repeat champion since John Kagwe of Kenya in 1997 and 1998, and one of only five men, including Alberto Salazar and Bill Rodgers, to win two or more consecutive New York City Marathons.

Tergat, who set the marathon World record of 2:04:55 in Berlin in 2003, returns to New York after finishing fourth in the Lisbon Half Marathon this past March in 59:42. One of the favourites heading into April’s Flora London Marathon, Tergat withdrew the week before the race with a calf injury. 

“I was probably in the best shape of my life when I had to pull out of the Flora London Marathon just a few days before the race, and I was not sure I would be ready to return to New York. After a difficult time following London, I now feel 100 percent ready and I am excited to come back to New York to defend this title,” said Tergat, who will be making his first start of the year in a World Marathon Majors event.

Prokopcuka, 29, held off Susan Chepkemei of Kenya in the final 500 metres to win the ING New York City Marathon 2005 in 2:24:41.

“I am full of anticipation to try to win again,” said Prokopcuka. “I respect my competitors, but I am not afraid of them, because I am feeling I am strong enough to beat everyone on the ING New York City Marathon course.”

Prokopcuka will face American record-holder and Olympic bronze medallist Deena Kastor, who announced on June 19 that she will run this year’s race.

First New York Half too!

Today there was also the announcement that NYRRC will stage the inaugural New York Half Marathon on 27 August 2006. The race route contained in Central Park will have a mass race start of 10,000 runners, places for which were sold out in 24hours of them becoming available.

There will also be an elite field with a prize purse of $60,000, and it is hoped that Tergat will also sign-up for that race too, as one of the two competitions he will take part in prior to the full marathon in the city. Yesterday it was announced that his other build-up race will be the Great North Run (GNR) - Half Marathon - in Newcastle, UK.