NEW YORK, 1 November 2003 — Tiny Catherine Ndereba, known as “Catherine the Great,” is generally accepted as the woman to beat in tomorrow’s 34th New York Marathon while a host of top Kenyans are favored in the men’s event.
Ndereba, 31, the former world record holder and current women’s world marathon champion, could become the first woman since Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway to win the US marathon triple — Chicago, Boston and New York.
The 98-pound Kenyan says her goal is to win rather than chase records.
Men’s defending champion Rodgers Rop heads the list of possible winners this year with countrymen Christopher Cheboiboch, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, two-time winner John Kagwe and Laban Kipkemboi.
Spain’s Julio Rey is also expected to finish prominently. American Phillimon Hanneck is aiming to run 2 hours and 10 minutes. “I don’t know what to expect,” he said.
Hanneck is coached by Alberto Salazar, the last American to win here, back in 1982. Hanneck ran 145 miles a week for four and a half months before cutting to 90 miles last week and 60 miles over the past week.
A month ago he tested himself by running 22 miles at 4:59 a mile. “I felt really good and I felt I could pick it up,” he said. “Albert is a very tough coach. It is no pain, no gain with him and that’s the way it should be.”
The women’s elite field of 48 is arguably the best to compete here with Ndereba headlining the show ahead of American Marla Runyan, Kenyan-born Dutch runner Lornah Kiplagat, Kenyans Joyce Chepchumba, course record holder Margaret Okayo, who set the 2:24:21 mark in 2001, and Russian Ludmila Petrova.
