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Tergat and Keflezighi Declared Fit and Ready to Go at the ING New York City Marathon
NEW YORK - (October 12, 2005) - The coaches of world record holder Paul Tergat of Kenya and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi of the United States declared their athletes healthy and ready to go at the ING New York City Marathon 2005 in statements released on Wednesday by New York Road Runners officials.
Both Tergat, 36, and Keflezighi, 30, had been sidelined by leg injuries since the summer, calling into doubt their fitness for the five-borough race on Sunday, November 6.
Tergat suffered a slight hamstring injury last month that forced him to withdraw from two scheduled races in England. From his training site in Kenya, however, Tergat's coach, Dr. Gabriele Rosa, said Tergat is on schedule with his training for his ING New York City Marathon debut.
"The problem of Paul Tergat now has been completely overcome," said Rosa. "He's okay now. He feels very good, and he's training together with [fellow ING New York City Marathon entrant] Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot.
"For New York, he will be ready to run at a very high level, performing like everyone knows him," continued Rosa. Tergat set the marathon world record of 2:04:55 in Berlin in 2003.
Keflezighi suffered a tightening of his right quadriceps muscle during the 10,000 meter final at the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki on August 8. He withdrew from the race and has not competed since. Early last month, Keflezighi resumed training with his Team Running USA coach, Bob Larsen, in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
"Meb is completely recovered," said Larsen. "He is now training hard in Mammoth Lakes. Meb's training is progressing very well. He anticipates being very competitive in his third ING New York City Marathon."
Last year, Keflezighi finished second (2:09:53, a personal record) in New York to Hendrick Ramaala (2:09:28), notching the highest finish by an American since Bob Kempainen placed second in 1993. He also won the silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympic Marathon.
The ING New York City Marathon men's field, as formidable and deep as any in the storied history of the race, includes defending champion Ramaala of South Africa, reigning two-time world marathon champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco, reigning Flora London Marathon champion Martin Lel of Kenya, and 2001 New York champion and course record holder (2:07:43) Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia.
source RunningUSA
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