Date:05/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/05/stories/2006110509501600.htm

Sport - Athletics

Strong field chases glory: NY Marathon

NEW YORK: Peter Tergat of Kenya and Latvia's Jelena Prokopcuka defend their New York City marathon titles on Sunday in an elite field that includes five Olympic medallists and 10 major marathon winners for the 26.2-mile race.

Two sets of duels could develop on the men's side.

Tergat, 37, will again face Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, who lost a shoulder-to-shoulder sprint finish last year by three-tenths of a second in the race's tightest margin, and Olympic champion Stefano Baldini of Italy joins the field along with Athens runner-up Meb Keflezighi.

``I'm obviously looking for revenge,'' said Eritrean-born American Keflezighi. ``This is the first time we've raced since Athens. This is part of my motivation.''

Baldini, 35, hopes to end a string of nine-straight victories by African runners in the New York race and emulate Italian NYC champions Giacomo Leone (1996), Gianni Poli (1986) and Orlando Pizzolato (1984, 1985).

``I watched the race on television,'' Baldini said about Pizzolato's triumphs. ``I was not dreaming about the marathon but it was the start of my career.''

Rodgers Rop of Kenya, who claimed a Boston and New York marathon double in 2002, is also among elite runners chasing a $130,000 top prize as they lead 37,000 entrants through the city's five boroughs.

Talented women

The women's race is also deep in talent, with London marathon winner Deena Kastor (US), Kenyans Rita Jeptoo, Susan Chepkemei and Catherine Ndereba, and Kenyan-born Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands among Prokopcuka's challengers.

``My memories and feelings of last year are so fresh,'' said the 30-year-old Latvian, who relegated Chepkemei to her second successive runner-up finish and third overall second-place result in the New York race.