Posted: September 28, 2004

Athletics: Benita Johnson To Make Marathon Debut

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Reigning IAAF World Cross Country Champion, Benita Johnson of Australia, will make her marathon debut on Sunday, 07-Nov at the ING New York City Marathon.

The announcement was made by Johnson in a press conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, today launching next January's Great North Cross Country in Edinburgh.

“I don’t think I’m too young to run a marathon,” Johnson told Dave Martin of the British Press Association. “I’m 25 and some of the world’s best performers have started younger than that.”

Johnson, 25, comes off of a convincing 1:07:55 victory at the BUPA Great North Run half-marathon in England on Sunday, where she bested some of the top women in distance running, including Derartu Tulu, Berhane Adere, Sonia O'Sullivan and Susan Chepkemei. Her victory provided resounding proof that she had fully recovered from the shin injury and iron deficiency which had hampered her preparations for the Athens Olympics where she finished a disappointing 24th in the 10,000m.

“I was devastated for a week after the Olympics,” Johnson continued. “I wasn’t enjoying my training and there was a lot of negative thinking. But I was motivated by the strong support group I had around me so I got back out there and started training for the Great North Run.”

The interest in Johnson’s marathon debut is intensified by her participation in the ING Run for Something Better, a race among four of the top professional female entrants. Created to support New York Road Runners’ core mission—to promote health and fitness in the local and international running communities—the ING Run for Something Better also reflects ING’s desire to support and enhance the sport of running. Along with Deena Kastor (USA), Lornah Kiplagat (NED), and Madai Perez (MEX), Johnson will compete on behalf of two charities, one of her choice and the other a New York City park to which she has been assigned. Funding will be awarded based on each athlete’s finishing place.

Johnson will also be joined on race day by fellow Australians Kerryn McCann (2:25:59 personal best), Andrew Letherby (2:12;45), and Haley McGregor (pacemaker).

The ING New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road Runners, inaugurated in 1970 with just 127 entrants. It has grown into the world’s premier road race, featuring more than 30,000 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.