INJURIES FORCE CHERUIYOT, LEL OUT OF ING NYC MARATHON
By David Monti
(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission
NEW
YORK (12-Oct) -- Kenyan marathon stars Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and
Martin Lel were forced to scratch from the ING New York City Marathon on
Sunday, Nov. 7, organizers announced today. Cheruiyot had been
battling a groin injury while Lel had problems with one of his legs.
Cheruiyot,
32, and Lel, 31, have been two of marathon running's most significant
players over the last decade. Cheruiyot won the Boston Marathon four
times and was the course record holder there until last April when the
younger Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot broke his four year-old mark.
Cheruiyot was also the Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion in 2006
when he famously slipped on a wet finish line decal at the finish,
sliding to a five-second victory over compatriot Daniel Njenga.
Cheruiyot was the first man ever to win the Boston and Chicago Marathons
in the same year, and finished second at the marathon here last year.
Lel won the ING New York City Marathon in 2003 and 2007, and was the
Virgin London Marathon champion in 2005, 2007 and 2008. He was the IAAF
World Half-Marathon Championships gold medallist in 2003, and finished
fifth in the Beijing Olympic Marathon.
Federico Rosa, an Italian
who manages both athletes, informed ING New York City Marathon officials
in Chicago last Friday the Cheruiyot and Lel were both out. However,
he confirmed the participation of James Kwambai, the third-fastest
marathoner of all-time with a 2:04:27 personal best.
Race
director Mary Wittenberg, the New York Road Runners president and CEO,
still has a very strong men's field for the 41st edition of her race.
World record holder Haile Gebreselassie of Ethiopia is just one of 11
athletes who have broken two hours and eight minutes during their
careers, including seven who have broken 2:07. American Meb Keflezighi
of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., will be defending his 2009 title, the first by
an American man in New York in 27 years.
The ING New York City Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors series and features an $800,000 prize money purse.
ENDS
