Feyisa Liles added to New York City Marathon Field

New York, October 20, 2011-The 2011 IAAF World Championships Marathon bronze medalist, Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia, and the second-fastest half-marathoner in the world this year, Matthew Kisorio of Kenya, lead a group of late additions to the ING New York City Marathon field, it was announced today by New York Road Runners officials.

Joining them on the starting line for the five-borough spectacle will be 2010 Virgin London Marathon runner-up Inga Abitova of Russia, three-time Rome Marathon champion Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia, 2010 SportZone Half-Marathon (Portugal) champion Stephen Kibet of Kenya, and Moroccan Olympian Abdellah Falil. Also announced for the race is former World Cross Country champion and World Championships medalist Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia, whose husband, Gebre Gebremariam, will defend his title in the men’s race.

Lilesa, 21, will be making his ING New York City Marathon debut, as will Kibet, 24, Dado, 27, and Kidane, 29, who had hoped to run the race last year but was kept from starting by a calf injury. Kisorio, 22, will be running his first marathon ever. Abitova, 29, is coming back to New York after her fourth-place finish last year.

Previously announced runners for the men’s race include Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia, 2009 champion Meb Keflezighi of the USA, 2011 Virgin London Marathon champion Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya, Olympians Juan Luis Barrios of Mexico and Jaouad Gharib of Morocco, reigning Boston Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya, Ethiopian Olympic and World Championships medalist Tsegaye Kebede, and American debut marathoners Bobby Curtis and Ed Moran. Two-time ING New York City Marathon champion Martin Lel of Kenya was forced to withdraw from the field due to injury.

In the women’s race, previously announced runners include three-time U.S. Olympian Jen Rhines, New Zealand Olympian Kim Smith, British Olympian Jo Pavey, Portugal’s championship long-distance duo of Jéssica Augusto and Ana Dulce Félix, U.S. debut marathoners Lauren Fleshman and Molly Pritz, reigning Boston Marathon champion Caroline Kilel of Kenya, 2011 London winner Mary Keitany of Kenya, 2011 Honda L.A. Marathon champion Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia, Swedish marathon record-holder Isabellah Andersson, and Galina Bogomolova, Russia’s second-fastest marathoner ever. Reigning ING New York City Marathon champion Edna Kiplagat of Kenya was forced to withdraw from the field due to a knee injury.