Loaded fields in New York City Marathon – even if Martin Lel withdraws

October 29, 2009

The 40th NYC-Marathon will once again host a bunch of the best marathon runners in the world. On the mens side 15 runners have a sub-2:10 PB and in the womens race eight runners already ran sub-2:30.

In the mens race defending champ Marilson Gomes dos Santos (BRA) will compete against the second fastest marathon runner in history, Kenyan James Kwambai (2:04:27, Rotterdam 09). Fellow Kenyans Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Patrick Makau also have a sub-2:07PB. Double World Marathon Champion Jaouad Gharib (2:05:27, London 09) is always one of the favorites. US-hopes are on Ryan Hall (2:06:17, 08).

In the womens race Paula Radcliffe wants to make it 4 victories in 4 starts after winning in 2004, 2007 and 2008. Russian 41-year old national record holder Lyudmila Petrova (2:21:29h) will do her best to cross the plans. Fellow Russian Tatyana Petrova was a World Championships Silver Medalist in the steeple and completed her first two marathons this year with times under 2:26h. With french record holder Christelle Daunay (2:25:43 h), Japanese Yuri Kano (2:24:27 h), Salina Kosgei from Kenya (2:23:22 h) and Ethiopian Derartu Tulu (2:23:30 h) the race for the first spots should be widely open.