NEW YORK, August 26 – Kenya's Mary Keitany, the 25-kilometer world record-holder, and Japan's Arata Fujiwara were among eight new entrants announced Wednesday by organizers of the 41st New York Marathon.
The November 7 race will be the marathon debut for Keitany, the reigning world half-marathon champion who set a 25km world mark of 79 mins 53 secs last May in Berlin. Keitany, 28, has not lost a half-marathon since October 2007.
"It will be my debut at the marathon distance and I have no idea how my body will react in the last miles, but I’m confident for the new challenge in front of me," Keitany said.
Joining her in the women’s field were two-time New Zealand Olympian Kim Smith and former world champion Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia. British Olympian Mara Yamauchi and US Olympian Shalane Flanagan are also among the entrants.
Fujiwara, 27, makes his New York debut after setting a course record of 2:09:33 last May to win the Ottawa Marathon. He left the Japan railways team last year to compete independently.
Also entering the men’s field were Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia and Kenyans Abel Kirui, Peter Kamais, and Emmanuel Mutai. Reigning champion Meb Keflezighi and marathon world record-holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia will also run.
