NY marathon today
Paula Radcliffe defends her New York City Marathon title today but there will be a new men's winner since Kenyan Martin Lel is sidelined with a broken foot. Lel, however, has already anointed his successor, Moroccan Abderrahim Goumri, who was overtaken...
Paula Radcliffe defends her New York City Marathon title today but there will be a new men's winner since Kenyan Martin Lel is sidelined with a broken foot.
Lel, however, has already anointed his successor, Moroccan Abderrahim Goumri, who was overtaken on the final Central Park stretch last year to finish runner-up.
Goumri also finished a close second to Lel in 2007 in London.
"I met him (Lel) in the hotel," Goumri told reporters. "And he said, 'you should win this year because I'm not there'."
Besides the close seconds to Lel, Goumri showed his ability in London this year where he was third in 2:05:30, the fastest third-place in any marathon and sixth fastest ever.
"I prepared very well. I feel very strong. I am still dreaming to win," said Goumri, seeking his first major marathon title.
Goumri still has his work cut out against a field that includes 2005 New York winner Paul Tergat of Kenya, 2004 champion Hendrick Ramaala, of South Africa, and 2006 winner Marilson Gomes dos Santos, of Brazil.