Americans Ready to Step Up at TCS NYC Marathon

By Scott Bush 

The TCS New York City Marathon released their U.S. roster for the event’s 2014 edition, headlined by Boston Marathon (and former NYC winner) champion Meb Keflezighi, Desi Linden, Kara Goucher and American marathon record holder Deena Kastor. There is a fine mix of savvy veteran talent, young up-and-comers and a few lingering question marks around certain athletes. Regardless, the New York Road Runners have once again assembled a field all American distance running fans can get behind.

The Goucher Comeback

Kara Goucher’s had a rough go of it the past few seasons. After finishing sixth at the 2013 Boston Marathon, Goucher has barely raced, struggling with injury and a couple performances she was far from happy with. After packing up and moving back to Boulder, Colorado, where she resumed training with her collegiate coach Mark Wetmore earlier this year, Goucher had hoped to spend the 2014 year focusing on building back her speed. Unfortunately for Goucher, an injury knocked her out of any spring and summer racing.

While it remains to be seen how good of shape Goucher currently is in, she is set to race the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon later this month, then line up for New York. Goucher has had success in NYC, having debuted in the marathon back in 2008, where she ran the second fastest time of her career of 2:25:53. Only her 2:24:52 in Boston in 2011 is faster. There will be plenty of eyes on Goucher as she makes her comeback to the event that’s defined much of her career. Will she run a new personal best and challenge for top five or will she be a bit more conservative and use New York as a good stepping stone towards 2015?

Meb Looks to Recapture Magic

The American sports landscape found itself frozen, unable to do anything but watch and scream, as Meb Keflezighi pulled away from an incredible field and never looked back, becoming the first American man to win the Boston Marathon since 1983 this past April. Needless to say, Keflezighi not only put himself in the record books, but put a stamp on a career one could easily claim as the best American marathoner of all-time. Post-win, the Olympic medalist made the rounds on late-night talk shows, traveled much of the summer to prevalent races (often not racing or using it more as a training run) and increased his exposure with his sponsors.

It’s hard to make history, run around all summer, only to have to double down and get back to training 100% and in the competitive mindset that allowed him to win the Boston Marathon. Keflezighi finished twelfth at the USA 7 Mile Championships earlier this summer, while taking it easy in a few other races due to a hamstring issue. If anyone can pull through in the clutch it’s Keflezighi, but it’s worth wondering if he’ll enter New York in the same shape he was in for Boston. If not, he will have a very tough time recapturing the magic from Boston. No matter what though, he’ll be a crowd favorite all weekend long.

Linden Hungry to Challenge Again

Desi Linden ran a strategic race in the Boston Marathon in April, starting out conservatively, with the hopes that an early fast pace among the leaders would benefit her later in the race as the frontrunners faded. Playing her own strategy out perfectly, Linden still ran the final few miles mostly by herself, finishing tenth overall in 2:23:54, in what would go down as the fastest Boston Marathon race ever. Linden finished less than two minutes off her PR of 2:22:38, which she set when she finished runner-up at the 2011 Boston Marathon. 

After dealing with a nasty stress fracture in 2012, causing her to not finish at the Olympics and knocking her out of the rest of 2012, Linden slowly worked her way back, running 2:29 in Berlin in the fall of 2013, then her Boston performance this past spring. One of the most consistent performers on the international scene, Linden again looks to make another jump in performance. Her ninth place, 33:05 finish, at Beach to Beacon was a nice step forward and you can bet Linden hopes to once again push for a top three finish in NYC. Many fans continue to under look the Hansons-Brooks standout, but as Linden’s shown in the past, she should never be discounted. And not that it matters all that much, but this is Linden’s debut in New York City.

The Time is Now for Vail

Training 140+ miles a week in the altitude of Flagstaff, Ryan Vail continues to eye the elusive 2:10 barrier. Vail is the top American returnee to this year’s race, having finished thirteenth in 2013. Vail ran brilliantly in the London Marathon this past spring, finishing tenth in a new personal best of 2:10:57. The Portland-based runner has moved into the upper echelon of American marathoning, but New York City offers a big opportunity to move right to the forefront of the talented list. If Vail once again finishes as top American, and accomplishes his goal of sub-2:10, do not be surprised to see his name as one of the heavy favorites to make the 2016 Olympic Team as articles start coming out next year.

Bersagel Could Be the Surprise of the Day 

Annie Bersagel is a name you need to start to know. Living in Europe, Bersagel showed up in the States last fall, winning the 2013 USA Marathon Championships, putting her name among the very best marathoners in the U.S. Bersagel followed up her USA Marathon Champs victory with another victory this past April, running a new personal best of 2:28:59 to win the Dusseldorf Marathon in Germany.

While she recently finished a somewhat disappointing eleventh at the Bupa Great North Run this past weekend, she did run 32:38.85 in the 10k on the track in early August in Oslo, ranking her US#11 in the event. While all eyes will be on Goucher, Linden and Kastor, do not be surprised is Bersagel drops more time off her PR and finishes as a top three American. She’s becoming that good!