All smiles - Deena Kastor after her triumph at the U.S. Olympic Marathon trials (© Getty Images)
New York, USAUSA marathon record holder Deena Kastor will begin serious preparation for the Olympic marathon by running the New York Mini 10K road race in Central Park on Saturday 7 June.
“New York is acting as my launch into the heart of marathon training,” said Kastor at a news conference on Thursday. “I am really excited about this race. On Saturday afternoon, I'll get excited about getting to the grindstone and putting in the work that's needed to bring home another medal in Beijing. This is my reward for hard work yet to come, to come here to New York City and celebrate.”
Kastor, 35, who won the Olympic trials race in Boston in April, will be joined by her Olympic marathon team mates Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, 34, and Blake Russell, 32, as the head liners in a field that also includes Hilda Kibet of the Netherlands. Kibet ran 30:55.61 for 10,000m on 30 May and 31:01 for 10km on the roads earlier this year.
Kastor, Lewy-Boulet, and Russell finished 1-2-3- at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Women’s Marathon on 20 April; the Mini will be the only time prior to the Olympic marathon on 17 August that all three will be running in the same race. “To be running together as teammates here on Saturday, as we will be in Beijing, will be incredibly sweet,” said Kastor, 35, who won the Mini in 2004 and was the bronze medallist in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Four years ago Kastor won the Mini and later that summer claimed the bronze medal in the Olympic marathon in Athens. This time Kastor is setting her sights even higher.
“I am really preparing myself for a gold medal,” said Kastor, who has won two of the World Marathon Majors crowns in London in 2006 and Chicago in 2005. “Each time I prepare for a marathon, I need to focus on something that gets me excited.
“My greatest wishes are to be healthy on race day and try to bring a gold medal home.”
Kastor stated that Kibet, who became a Dutch citizen this year, is the “big-time” favourite here. Kibet, 27, fared well in her last competition in New York: She won the NYC Half-Marathon and placed sixth in the Mini in 2007 and 2005.
“Running the Mini twice before has given me some experience,” said Kibet, who is the cousin of four-time Mini champion (and 2007 winner) Lornah Kiplagat. “Since last year, my performances have really improved.” Kiplagat, also of the Netherlands, will not run the Mini this year due to a recent illness.
Other entrants include Madai Perez of Mexico, Alina Alekseyeva of Russia, and Kathy Newberry of the United States.
Sara Hunninghake for the IAAF
“New York is acting as my launch into the heart of marathon training,” said Kastor at a news conference on Thursday. “I am really excited about this race. On Saturday afternoon, I'll get excited about getting to the grindstone and putting in the work that's needed to bring home another medal in Beijing. This is my reward for hard work yet to come, to come here to New York City and celebrate.”
Kastor, 35, who won the Olympic trials race in Boston in April, will be joined by her Olympic marathon team mates Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, 34, and Blake Russell, 32, as the head liners in a field that also includes Hilda Kibet of the Netherlands. Kibet ran 30:55.61 for 10,000m on 30 May and 31:01 for 10km on the roads earlier this year.
Kastor, Lewy-Boulet, and Russell finished 1-2-3- at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Women’s Marathon on 20 April; the Mini will be the only time prior to the Olympic marathon on 17 August that all three will be running in the same race. “To be running together as teammates here on Saturday, as we will be in Beijing, will be incredibly sweet,” said Kastor, 35, who won the Mini in 2004 and was the bronze medallist in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Four years ago Kastor won the Mini and later that summer claimed the bronze medal in the Olympic marathon in Athens. This time Kastor is setting her sights even higher.
“I am really preparing myself for a gold medal,” said Kastor, who has won two of the World Marathon Majors crowns in London in 2006 and Chicago in 2005. “Each time I prepare for a marathon, I need to focus on something that gets me excited.
“My greatest wishes are to be healthy on race day and try to bring a gold medal home.”
Kastor stated that Kibet, who became a Dutch citizen this year, is the “big-time” favourite here. Kibet, 27, fared well in her last competition in New York: She won the NYC Half-Marathon and placed sixth in the Mini in 2007 and 2005.
“Running the Mini twice before has given me some experience,” said Kibet, who is the cousin of four-time Mini champion (and 2007 winner) Lornah Kiplagat. “Since last year, my performances have really improved.” Kiplagat, also of the Netherlands, will not run the Mini this year due to a recent illness.
Other entrants include Madai Perez of Mexico, Alina Alekseyeva of Russia, and Kathy Newberry of the United States.
Sara Hunninghake for the IAAF
