Kimberley Smith amongst some elite company in the New York Marathon

Kimberley Smith will have every incentive to run a fast marathon when she lines up in New York on Sunday.

The New York Marathon has attracted one of the best fields for some time for the women’s race with nine runners having a personal best of under 2h 25m.

Smith set a personal record and New Zealand record of 2h 25m 21s in last year’s London Marathon and was fifth in last year’s New York Marathon in 2h 29m 28s.

In her lead up to New York she won the Philadelphia half marathon, in the fastest time run by a woman in the US and New Zealand record of 1h 7m 11s, in February.

World half marathon champion and record holder Mary Keitany of Kenya has the fastest time of those entered, 2h 19m 19s achieved in winning the London Marathon earlier this year. She was third in New York last year in 2h 29m 1s.

Caroline Kilel of Kenya, winner of the Boston Marathon in April in 2h 22m 36s will be having her New York debut. The third Kenyan competing is Caroline Rotich, eighth last year fourth in Boston and New York half marathon champion and event record holder. Isabellah Andersson, a native of Kenya but now competing for Sweden comes into the race with a best of 2h 23m 41s.

The host country has Lauren Fleshman starting in her first marathon, Molly Pritz and Jen Rhines who has a personal best of 2h 29m 32s.

From Russia are Inga Abitova best of 2h 22m 19s and Galina Bogomolova best of 2h 20m 47s in Boston in 2006.

Ethiopia will be well represented by Firehiwot Dado with a best of 2h 24m 13s in Rome this year, Buzunesh Deba best of 2h 23m 31s in San Diego this year, Misiker Mekonnin Demissie best of 2h 25m 21 as runner up in San Diego and Werknesh Kidane with a best of 2h 26m 15s after finishing seventh in Boston this year. From Portugal are Jessica Augusto who debuted with 2h 24m 33s in London this year and Ana Dulce Felix best of 2h 26m 30s in Vienna this year.

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