In her return from the birth of her first child, Goucher will use March 20 race as a major test for the Boston Marathon
NEW YORK – (January 19,
2011) – In what will be her sternest and most important test
to-date since the birth of her first child last year, U.S.
Olympian and World Championships bronze medalist Kara Goucher will make her NYC Half-Marathon debut on Sunday, March 20, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
“Kara Goucher was a big
fan favorite before her maternity leave, and I’ll bet she
connects with an even larger audience as a new mom, like Paula
did,” Wittenberg said. “Whether it’s new moms or hardcore
racing fans, a lot of people are excited about Kara’s return to
the international racing scene. We’re especially excited to host Kara
in NYC as part of her comeback trail to Boston.”
Boasting a prize purse of
$100,000 – the largest half-marathon prize purse in the United
States – and featuring a world class international field, the
NYC Half-Marathon will be a crucial stepping stone for Goucher
on the way to the Boston Marathon, which will be run on April 18. Last
weekend, she began her comeback with a second-place finish at
the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half-Marathon in 1 hour,
14 minutes, 2 seconds.
One of America’s finest
distance runners, Goucher, 32, of Portland, OR, made her mark
on the ING New York City Marathon in 2008 when she ran the
fastest-ever debut marathon by an American woman – 2 hours, 25
minutes, 53 seconds – and finished in third place. The time is
also the fastest ever by an American woman at the race. Goucher also
finished third at the 2009 Boston Marathon.
At the 2008 U.S. Olympic
Team Trials, Goucher achieved the rare feat of qualifying for
Team USA in two events, the 5000 meters and the 10,000 meters.
In the 5000m final in Eugene, OR, Goucher won after a thrilling
duel with Shalane Flanagan. In 2007, the Minnesota
native took home the bronze in the 10,000 meters from the IAAF World
Championships in Osaka, Japan.
“I always look forward to
racing in New York. Whether it is on a track or on the roads,
NYC has a buzz unlike any other city in the world,” said
Goucher. “I can’t wait to return to the streets of NYC on my
way to Boston.”
Goucher and her husband, 2000 U.S. Olympian Adam Goucher,
welcomed their first child, son Colton, last September. In her
last race before maternity leave, she finished 10th at the
2009 World Championships Marathon in Berlin in 2:27:48.
On a course designed to
celebrate New York City, the NYC Half-Marathon will take more
than 9,000 runners on a loop through Central Park, down Seventh
Avenue through Times Square, across 42nd Street and along the
expansive West Side Highway to Battery Park in the heart of the
city’s financial district, finishing with a view of the Statue of
Liberty.
Headquartered in New York City, New York Road Runners
is dedicated to advancing the sport of running, enhancing health and
fitness for all, and meeting our community’s needs. Our goal is
to use the expertise acquired in our 52-year history to
empower all people to live fitter, healthier lives through
participation in our races, community events, instruction and
training resources, and youth programs. Our races and other
events draw more than 300,000 people each year. The ING New York
City Marathon, NYRR’s premier event, is the largest and most inclusive
marathon in the world, attracting the world’s top professional
runners every year and raising $30.8 million for charity in
2010. NYRR’s running-based youth programs, which currently
serve more than 100,000 children in hundreds of schools and
community centers, promote children’s health and fitness,
character development, and personal achievement in underserved
communities.
For more information, go to: www.nyrr.org
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