Posted: September 27, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Samuel Wanjiru to Make Marathon Debut at the ING New York City Marathon 2007

Dmytro Baranovsky will also join star-studded professional field in New York NEW YORK - (September 26, 2007) - The eagerly anticipated marathon debut of half-marathon world record holder Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya at the ING New York City Marathon 2007 on Sunday, November 4, was announced by New York Road Runners president, CEO and race director Mary Wittenberg. "Sammy rocked the running world by running faster than anyone else at the half-marathon distance, faster than any of the stars of our sport, including the veterans in this year's field," Wittenberg said. "His true test will be the marathon distance. As the youngest in the field, Sammy comes to New York to prove himself against some of the world's best at the toughest distance." Wanjiru, 20, has lowered the half-marathon world record three times in the past two years. He first made his mark as an 18-year-old, setting his first world half-marathon record of 59 minutes, 16 seconds at the 2005 Fortis Half-Marathon Rotterdam His time was one second faster than the world record Paul Tergat set in 1998. Earlier this year in March, Wanjiru returned to Rotterdam and ran the course in 58:33, improving his own half-marathon record by twenty seconds, set in Ras al Khaimah on February 9, 2007. En route to his half-marathon record, Wanjiru also unofficially broke legendary runner Haile Gebrselassie's 20K world record with a time of 55:31. Ukranian Dmytro Baranovsky, 28, will make his U.S. debut at the ING New York City Marathon. The 2005 Fukuoka Marathon champion, Baranovsky became the national record holder in the marathon, after finishing second to Gebrselassie at the 2006 Fukuoka Marathon in 2:07:15. Wanjiru and Baranovsky join a talented and experienced professional field that includes defending champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil, ING New York City Marathon 2006 runner-up Stephen Kiogora of Kenya, ING New York City Marathon former champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa and this year's Flora London Marathon winner Martin Lel, also of Kenya. The ING New York City Marathon 2007 professional field will compete for more than $700,000 in prize money. The marathon will conclude the inaugural World Marathon Majors series, which will award a $1 million total prize purse to the top male and female marathoners. For more information, visit: .INGNYCMarathon.org. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest