Meb Keflezighi, winner of the 2009 TCS New York City Marathon and the only athlete ever to win the New York City Marathon, the Boston Marathon, and an Olympic medal, has announced his return to the race as Ambassador and Special Advisor to New York Road Runners' charity running team, NYRR Team for Kids.
Keflezighi brought the curtain down on his professional marathon-running career at the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon, but will now team up with adult runners to support the charity's work and tackle the race once again. The 2018 event will be the third race of Series XII of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which begins with the BMW Berlin Marathon on 16 Septmber 2018.
�"Going into the 2017 marathon season, knowing it would be my last as a professional runner, I began looking for the best outlets to continue to promote running as a vehicle to support and encourage children to lead healthy and active lives," said Keflezighi. �"New York Road Runners makes it possible for young people to experience the joys of the sport, as I did at their age. I've been fortunate to have been a Team for Kids Ambassador since 2014 and I'm excited to continue this role by joining this group of inspired adult runners with Team for Kids and by participating in the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon and supporting Team for Kids' efforts through the year."
The news follows the drawing for places in the 2018 race with applications once again rising, marking the fifth straight year with an increase. The number of drawing applications rose approximately seven per cent over 2017 and 36 per cent since 2014. More than 50,000 runners are expected to finish the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon. The race, which is the largest marathon in the world and the premier event of New York Road Runners, will take place on Sunday, November 4.
Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners said: �"The continued rise in interest in the TCS New York City Marathon is a testament to the popularity of running and the draw of experiencing the race of a lifetime in New York City."
The 2018 TCS New York City Marathon field will be made up of both guaranteed and non-guaranteed entrants. Runners received guaranteed entry through a variety of methods, which are detailed here. Non-guaranteed entrants were selected through the drawing on 28 February. The month-long application period for all entrants opened on 15 January and closed on 15 February
Other news
