America’s Best, Led by Kara Goucher and Desiree Linden, to Join Meb Keflezighi on 2014 TCS New York City Marathon Start Line on Sunday, November 2

Acclaimed American talent, led by 2012 Olympians Kara Goucher and Desiree Linden, will join previously announced Meb Keflezighi on the start line at the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2, 2014, it was announced today by Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. Goucher will return to New York for the first time since making her mark on the 2008 New York City Marathon when she ran the fastest women’s American debut marathon—2 hours, 25 minutes, and 53 seconds—and finished in third place, and Linden will run the New York City Marathon for the first time. Keflezighi will lead the American men, including top returner Ryan Vail. 

“It’s an honor and thrill to welcome such an extraordinary lineup of American runners to this year’s Marathon,” said Wittenberg. “Kara, Desi, and Ryan are, along with Meb, some of America’s most established and adored distance runners. As they lead the way through the City’s five boroughs and diverse running communities on Marathon Day, we’re sure they’ll inspire not only the 50,000-plus runners following in their footsteps, but the next generation of great American marathoners as well.”

Goucher, 36, of Boulder, CO, a has been a pioneer among American women marathoners since her impressive debut at the 2008 New York City Marathon, when she ran 2:25:53, the fastest-ever marathon debut by an American woman and the fastest time by an American woman on the New York course. Her third-place showing was the first podium finish by an American woman in 14 years. On the track, Goucher made history at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships when she finished third in the 10,000 meters—the first American woman ever to medal in the event. Before her 11th-place finish at the 2012 Olympic Marathon, Goucher placed third at the NYC Half in both 2011 and 2012. She has finished in the top six three times at the Boston Marathon: third in 2009, fifth in 2011, and sixth in 2013. The 2014 TCS New York City Marathon will be her first competitive marathon since the 2013 Boston Marathon.

“Since I ran my first marathon in New York City in 2008, I have wanted to go back and run again,” said Goucher. “I am so excited after a year of injuries and changes that my return to ‘marathoning’ happens here.  New York City is a very special place for me, as I was born in Queens.  I have always loved the city, and I have felt a special connection since running my first marathon there.”

Linden, 31, of Washington Township, MI, a 2012 Olympian, finished second at the 2011 Boston Marathon with a personal-best time of 2:22:38, a breakout performance in which she ran the then-fastest Boston Marathon time by an American woman. She finished second at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in a time of 2:25:55, but she suffered an injury that forced her to drop out of the 2012 London Olympic Marathon. Since overcoming her injury, Linden has finished second at the 2012 USA Half-Marathon Championships, fifth at the 2013 BMW Berlin Marathon, and 10th overall and second among Americans at the 2014 Boston Marathon.

“I feel I’ve been preparing for my TCS New York City Marathon debut since the beginning of my marathon career,” said Davila. “I believe the course favors strong and experienced marathoners, and I’m excited that I’ve finally developed the fitness and fortitude to take on the challenging course and strong field that NYRR will assemble. I hope to build on the momentum from the spring and capitalize this fall by competing at the front of one of the world’s most prestigious marathons.”

As two of six American women entered with personal-best times under 2:30:00, Goucher and Linden will lead the deepest American women’s field in New York City Marathon history, including 2004 Olympic bronze medalist and American record-holder Deena Kastor, 2008 Olympian Blake Russell, 2013 USA Marathon champion Annie Bersagel, and 2:28 performer Lauren Kleppin.

The top American men joining Keflezighi and Vail are the top two men’s finishers from the 2013 USA Marathon Championships: winner Nick Arciniaga and runner-up Josphat Boit. Luke Puskedra, a 2012 Team USA member at the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships, will make his marathon debut.

Featured Athlete Backgrounds and Notable Performances

• ·         Goucher, 36, of Boulder, CO, finished third in her marathon debut at the 2008 New York City Marathon in 2:25:53, the fastest-ever debut marathon by an American woman, the fastest time by an American woman in New York, and the first podium finish by an American woman in 14 years. A two-time Olympian, Goucher has recorded three top-six finishes at the Boston Marathon: in 2009 (third), 2011 (fifth), and 2013 (sixth). The third-place NYC Half finisher in both 2011 and 2012, she took the 10,000-meter bronze medal at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, the first medal for an American woman in the event’s history.
• ·         Linden, 31, of Washington Township, MI, will make her New York City Marathon debut. She finished second at the 2011 Boston Marathon in a personal best of 2:22:38, lowering her previous best by four minutes and running the then-fastest Boston Marathon time by an American woman. The 2012 Olympian finished 10th overall and second among American women at the 2014 Boston Marathon and fifth at the 2013 BMW Berlin Marathon.
• ·         Kastor, 41, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, won this year’s More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Women’s Half-Marathon, setting a national masters’ record of 1:11:38. She was the winner of the 2006 London Marathon, and she holds four open American records, including 2:19:36 for the marathon.
• ·         Keflezighi, 39, of San Diego, CA, lengthened his remarkable stay atop the U.S. marathon rankings with a victory at the 2014 Boston Marathon, becoming the first American man to win the race since Greg Meyer in 1983. Similarly, in 2009, he became the first American since Alberto Salazar in 1982 to win the New York City Marathon. Keflezighi’s sixth-place finish in 2011 was his sixth top-10 finish at the race. 
• ·         Vail, 28, of Portland, OR, is the top male American returner, having finished 13th last year. This year, Vail has taken 10th place at the Virgin Money London Marathon in a personal best of 2:10:57. A three-time U.S. representative at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Vail has finished in the top six 10 times at United States championship races.
• ·         Arciniaga, 31, of Flagstaff, AZ, finished seventh at the 2014 Boston Marathon. In 2013, he won the gold medal at the USA Marathon Championships. He represented the United States at the 2011 IAAF World Championships and owns a personal best of 2:11:30 from the 2011 Chevron Houston Marathon, where he finished second.
• ·         Boit, 30, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, was the runner-up at both the 2014 USA Half-Marathon Championships and the 2013 USA Marathon Championships. He represented the United States at the 2014 IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships, and he set a personal best this past spring at the Boston Marathon to finish 11th with a time of 2:12:52. He was a two time NCAA champion at the University of Arkansas.
• ·         Puskedra, 24, of Portland, OR, will make his marathon debut at the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon. He was the third-place finisher at the 2014 USA 20K Championships and represented the United States at the 2012 IAAF Half-Marathon World Championships. During his senior year at the University of Oregon, he took fourth place in his half-marathon debut at the 2012 Aramco Houston Half-Marathon in 1:01:36.