Posted: November 29, 2004

Athletics: 2004 ING New York City Marathon Biggest Ever

NEW YORK - (November 23, 2004) - With the final official count completed, New York Road Runners officials announced that the 2004 ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 7 had 36,562 finishers, making the annual five-borough race the largest marathon in the world ever according to the Road Running Information Center.

"We have always prided ourselves on being the world's best marathon, now we are also the largest ever," said ING NYC Marathon race director Allan Steinfeld.

The 100th edition of the Boston Marathon in 1996 with 35,868 finishers had held the top spot. The ING NYC Marathon claims two of the top three all-time positions with 34,729 finishers in the 2003 race. New York City also has the most in the top 10 overall with four. The breakdown of finishers in this year's race was 24,574 men and 11,988 women.

In the closest women's finish in the race's history, Paula Radcliffe of England nipped Susan Chepkemei of Kenya by four seconds while South African Hendrik Ramaala took the men's title over 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi (the top U.S. finish since 1993). Find more marathon information at: www.ingnycmarathon.org

Largest Marathons based on finishers
Rank/Race/Finishers
1) ING New York City 2004, 36,562
2) Boston 1996 (100th), 35,868
3) ING New York City 2003, 34,729
4) LaSalle Bank Chicago 2004, 33,125
5) Flora London 2002, 32,899
6) LaSalle Bank Chicago 2003, 32,362
7) Flora London 2003, 32,174
8) New York City 2002, 31,834
9) Flora London 2004, 31,796
10) New York City 1999, 31,785

Source: Road Running Information Center - www.runningusa.org.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
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Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
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