Keflezighi Hoping Third Time's the Charm in New York

NEW YORK - (September 6, 2006) - After two consecutive top three finishes at the ING New York City Marathon, Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi of the United States will give the 26.2-mile course through New York's five boroughs another go on Sunday, November 5. Keflezighi's plan to participate in the 37th running of the ING New York City Marathon was announced by race director Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. Keflezighi joins a professional men's field that includes defending champion and marathon world record holder Paul Tergat of Kenya and fellow Americans Alan Culpepper and Dathan Ritzenhein.

"'Third time is the charm' should be Meb's mantra this time out," said Wittenberg. "I think this is Meb's year to win New York. He is fit, strong, healthy and experienced. There's no time like the present for him."

Seventy days after capturing the 2004 Olympic marathon silver medal in Athens, Keflezighi finished as New York's runner-up with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 53 seconds, his personal record. Last year, the Team Running USA athlete posted a time of 2:09:56 to place third behind Tergat and Hendrick Ramaala. His marathon debut was at the 2002 New York City Marathon, where he placed ninth in a time of 2:12:35.

"I am very excited to come back for the ING New York City Marathon," said Keflezighi, a resident of San Diego. "It will be my eighth marathon and the fourth time in New York City. The ING New York City Marathon allows me to perform on a world stage against the best marathoners in the world. I am looking forward to competing against the announced field and I know there will be more great runners added in the near future."

Keflezighi, 31, is currently tied for fifth on the men's 2006-07 World Marathon Majors leader board. The UCLA grad ran the series-opening Boston Marathon in April where he turned in a third place performance (2:09:56).

Other notable achievements for Keflezighi this year include his second place showing at the inaugural NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE (1:01:28), which was his debut performance at the distance. Keflezighi was edged out by Tom Nyariki of Kenya (1:01:22), who recently announced that he will also run the ING New York City Marathon this year. Keflezighi also won the 2006 USA 15K road title (43:43) and was second in the 10,000 meters at the USA Track & Field Championships (28:18.74). To-date, he has won 15 national titles (track, roads and cross country).

Keflezighi was seventh at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in 2003 (2:10:03) and placed second at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Birmingham, Alabama, with a time of 2:11:47.

source RunningUSA