Athletics: Deena Kastor, America's First Lady of Running, Enters ING New York City Marathon

American record holder and 2004 Olympic Games qualifier to run in 35th annual New York race

NEW YORK - (April 6, 2004) - On the heels of a gutsy second-place finish at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon, American marathon record-holder Deena Kastor has entered the ING New York City Marathon 2004, on Sunday, November 7.

New York Road Runners president and CEO Allan Steinfeld made the announcement with Kastor at a luncheon at the New York Athletic Club. Kastor will be returning to New York to participate in the 35th running of the race that launched her marathon career in 2001, when she ran the fastest marathon debut ever by an American woman, 2:26:58, to win the USA Marathon Championships and place seventh overall in the women's field.

Kastor enters this year's ING New York City Marathon as a legitimate contender to become the first American woman champion since Miki Gorman in 1977.

"We are delighted to have Deena coming back to New York for this year's race," said Steinfeld, also the ING New York City Marathon race director. "She brings a running résumé that is on par with the finest in the world, and with her guts, speed and determination, she has all the qualities needed to win in New York. What a thrill it would be for all of us to see Deena come across the finish line first."

Kastor, 31, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., secured her spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team with a gritty performance and second place finish at the marathon trials race in St. Louis on Saturday, April 3. In an exciting contest that saw several athletes jostling for the top spot, Kastor came away with a trip to Athens in a time of 2:29:38.

Also the American record holder at 10,000 meters (30:50.32) and 15K (47:15), Kastor is a six-time USA Cross Country 8K champion, a four-time USA 15K champion and a two-time silver medalist (2002-03) at the World Cross Country Championships. The Team Running USA athlete set the national marathon record of 2:21:16 at the 2003 Flora London Marathon, breaking Joan Benoit Samuelson's 17-year-old mark, and running the 15th fastest time ever. Kastor was the 2003 Jesse Owens Award winner as USA Track & Field's outstanding female athlete.

About the ING New York City Marathon
The ING New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road Runners (NYRR). Inaugurated in 1970 with 127 entrants, the ING New York City Marathon has grown into the world's premier road race, featuring 35,000 participants, more than two million spectators, a leading professional field, and a guaranteed prize purse of more than $500,000. Broadcast across the nation and in 125 countries worldwide, the 26.2-mile footrace is the United States' most watched one-day sporting event. The ING New York City Marathon joins the USA Men's 8K Championships and the Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K as the cornerstones of the NYRR Professional Racing Series and continues NYRR's tradition of bringing the very best runners in the world to New York City. For more information visit: www.ingnycmarathon.org

About New York Road Runners
Founded in 1958 with a membership of 47, New York Road Runners (NYRR) is one of the world's foremost running organizations. NYRR is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sport of running and walking for health, recreation and competition, and provides full professional services related to all aspects of racing. The organization has a full-time staff of more than 60 employees, supplemented by a network of thousands of volunteers, serving more than 39,000 members from every U.S. state and more than 100 countries.