Two-Time World Champion Jaouad Gharib to Run the ING New York City Marathon
Nuta Olaru Joins Women's Field

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Posted Thursday, 18 August, 2005

NEW YORK - (August 15, 2005) - Two-time World Marathon Champion and event record-holder Jaoaud Gharib of Morocco, who recently defended his crown at the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, has joined the field for the ING New York City Marathon 2005, it was announced by New York Road Runners.

In addition, top Romanian marathoner Nuta Olaru has also entered the ING New York City Marathon 2005, which will take place on Sunday, November 6, 12 weeks after the World Championships.

Gharib, 33, will be making his ING New York City Marathon debut. He joins a stellar men's field that already features defending champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist and last year's runner-up Meb Keflezighi of the United States and Irish Olympic veteran Mark Carroll. The lineup is taking shape as one of the strongest in the race's history.

Gharib set a World Championships record of 2:08:31 in his 2003 win in Paris and in Helsinki, he ran 2:10:10 to repeat. In six career marathon starts, he has finished out of the top 10 just once. He set his personal best of 2:07:02 when he finished third at 2004 Flora London Marathon, and this past spring, he was second at London in 2:07:49.

"Jaouad is one of the world's most accomplished marathon runners. His races in Paris, Helsinki and London have been most impressive. He is a big-city runner capable of winning big in New York," said Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners and race director of the ING New York City Marathon.

Olaru has won four major races in the last 12 months. Her most recent victory came July 30 at the Quad-City Times Bix 7 Mile in Iowa.

"Athletes from Romania, the birthplace of our founder and visionary Fred Lebow, have always had a special place in our hearts," said Wittenberg, "and it is with great excitement we welcome Nuta to follow in the footsteps of countrywoman Anuta Catuna, who won here in 1996."

Olaru, 34, finished second at the 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in a personal best time of 2:24:33. She was 13th in the 2004 Olympic Marathon and has represented Romania in three IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships and three IAAF World Marathon Championships.

New York Road Runners
New York Road Runners, soon to celebrate its 50th anniversary, is dedicated to promoting the sport of distance running and enhancing health and fitness for all. Our road races and other fitness programs draw upwards of 300,000 runners annually, and together with our magazine and Web site support and promote professional and recreational running. A staff of 60, assisted by thousands of volunteers, stages the ING New York City Marathon, as well as a road race nearly every weekend plus many track and cross country events. NYRR's home base in New York, and its lifelong identification with Central Park, have given many of its events iconic status, attracting the world's top professional runners. For more information, visit: NYRR.org

ING New York City Marathon
The premier event of New York Road Runners, the ING New York City Marathon is one of the world's great road races, drawing more than 85,000 applicants. The race, a Running USA Founding Member, attracts many world-class professional athletes, not only for the more than $600,000 in prize money, but also for the chance to excel in the media capital of the world before two million cheering spectators and 260 million worldwide television viewers. As any one of the 635,000 past participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime. For more information, visit: INGNYCMarathon.org

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
415 E Figueroa St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org

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