Eleven Olympians to Face Off at the NYRR New York Mini 10K on June 12

Lornah Kiplagat looks to take home fifth victory at the 39th running of the original women-only road race

Reigning ING New York City Marathon champion Derartu Tulu and current 10,000-meter world champion Linet Masai highlight strong field

New York, June 3, 2010 –A field that boasts 11 Olympians will contend for victory at the NYRR New York Mini 10K on Saturday, June 12, it was announced today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. Top headliners are four-time Mini champion Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands, two-time Olympic 10,000-meter gold medalist Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia, who is making her first trip back to New York City since her victory here at the ING New York City Marathon last November, and 2009 10,000-meter world champion Linet Masai of Kenya.

An extraordinary group of American and international stars, including Magdalena Lewy Boulet of the United States, New Zealand’s Kim Smith, and Ethiopia’s Werknesh Kidane, will add to the excitement at the 39th running of the world’s original women-only road race. Nine Olympians will compete for top honors: Kiplagat, Tulu, Masai, Lewy Boulet, Smith, Kidane, Australia’s Benita Willis, New Zealand’s Nina Rillstone, and South Africa’s René Kalmer. Two additional Olympians, Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe and America’s Kara Goucher, will be running, but not competing, as they are both in their fifth month of pregnancy.

“This is an electrifying field full of accomplished veterans like Lornah, Derartu, Benita, and Kim matched up against the hottest star on the rise in Linet,” said Wittenberg. “Additionally, it will be a treat to see Paula and Kara out there participating along with thousands of other women.”

Kiplagat, 36, is making a comeback from a knee injury that plagued most of her 2009 season. Kiplagat’s last major race was at the World’s Best 10K in San Juan, PR, on March 1, 2009. The Mini champion in 2003 and 2005–2007, she is also the women’s half-marathon world record holder and a two-time Olympian (2004, 2008).

“I am really thrilled to come back to New York City after not racing there for quite some time,” said Kiplagat. “New York is home away from home and I missed the city, the people, and the atmosphere a lot. During the time of my injury I was only talking about when I could be ready for one of the New York Road Runners events, and I can't wait to come back.”

Tulu, 38, won the ING New York City Marathon last November in 2 hours, 28 minutes, and 52 seconds, becoming the race’s first Ethiopian woman champion. She has already had a successful 2010 season, finishing second at the Nagoya International Women’s Marathon.

Masai, 20, won the world title at 10,000 meters in Berlin after a furious four-woman sprint finish. She holds the Kenyan national record for 10,000 meters (30:26.50). In both 2009 and 2010, she finished second at the World Cross Country Championships.

Lewy Boulet, 36, of Oakland, CA, will be competing in her sixth New York Mini, coming off a sixth-place finish in 2009. A native of Poland, Lewy Boulet finished second in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Lewy Boulet recently became the fourth-fastest American marathoner of all time with her 2:26:22 performance in Rotterdam.    

Smith, 28, holds 11 New Zealand running records, including 10,000 meters (30:35.54). She earned four NCAA titles while at Providence College, most notably the 2005 NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championship.

Another exciting entrant is Alana Hadley, 13, of Charlotte, NC, who will be competing in her first race against world-class competitors. Hadley has already raced at the collegiate level at the Wake Forest Open 5000 meters in March, where she finished second in a personal best time of 17:09.38. She has a 10K personal best of 38:08.

The top runners will be vying for a prize purse of $35,000—with the winner taking home $10,000—including $10,000 in money earmarked for Americans. Founded by NYRR in 1972, the Mini got its name when race founder Fred Lebow convinced the first sponsor to support a six-mile “mini” marathon—named for the miniskirt, which was then in fashion—rather than a full marathon. The first race featured 78 participants; the Mini has been on the NYRR calendar ever since.

Lornah!