Lel, Mutai, and Pavey were joined yesterday by Olympians Juan Luis Barrios and Jaouad Gharib at the BUPA Great North Run in Newcastle as they got ready themselves for the ING New York City Marathon 2011, which takes place on November 6.

"The field for the ING New York City Marathon 2011 is going to be blockbuster strong," said Wittenberg.

"We're ensured a great race when we have the likes of two-time champion Martin Lel, London champion Emmanuel Mutai, and perennial contender Jaouad Gharib.

"And we're honoured to host Jo Pavey as she continues her build up to the London 2012 Olympics in her home country."

Lel, 33, of Kenya, has run the New York City Marathon twice and won it both times, in 2003 and 2007.

He has also won three London Marathons and has placed in the top three in 11 of his 12 marathon finishes.

Lel bounced back from two years of injuries last spring when he finished second in London.

This will mark his first return to the New York City Marathon since his 2007 victory.

His compatriot Mutai, 27, finished second at the 2010 New York City Marathon behind champion Gebre Gebremariam, who will also be back in 2011.

Mutai set his personal best this past spring when he smashed the course record at the London Marathon with a time of 2 hours 04min 40sec, winning by 1:05 and becoming the fourth-fastest marathoner in history on a certified course.


Pavey, 38, will take another step towards her "dream" of running the London 2012 marathon by making her New York City Marathon debut this year after making her marathon debut in London in April this year when she finished 19th in a time of 2:28:24 - inside the Olympic target time of 2:31.00 set by UK Athletics.

Pavey has already had two encouraging runs in the Big Apple this year - she was sixth at the NYC Half in March in 1:09:33 and seventh at the NYRR New York Mini 10k in June 32min 46sec.

"I'm really excited to be coming back to New York to race for the third time this year, and to be finally toeing the line in Staten Island," said Pavey.

"No marathon career would be complete without competing in the ING New York City Marathon, and it's great that my second marathon will be in a race that has such a tremendous history.

"NYRR has assembled a strong field, and a world-class race is exactly what I need ahead of an Olympic year.

"The marathon is new to me and I'm finding the new challenge really motivating - I can't wait for November 6th."

Barrios, 28, of Mexico, was a 5,000 metres finalist at the 2008 Olympic Games, finishing seventh.

He made his marathon debut earlier this year at the Lala International Marathon in Mexico and finished third in 2:14:20.

In 2010, Barrios earned two golds at the Central American and Caribbean Games in the 1,500m and the 5,000m.


Gharib, 38, of Morocco, is the Moroccan record-holder for both the half-marathon with 59:59) and the marathon with 2:05:27.

He finished second in the 2008 Beijing Olympic marathon in 2:07:16, and he won IAAF World Championships Marathon gold in 2003 and 2005.

Earlier this year, Gharib finished sixth at the Virgin London Marathon in 2:08:26.

In addition to Gebremariam, others previously announced for the men's race include 2009 champion Meb Keflezighi and fellow Americans Bobby Curtis and Ed Moran.

In the women's race, Pavey will face defending champion Edna Kiplagat, Americans Jen Rhines, Lauren Fleshman, and Molly Pritz, and Kim Smith of New Zealand.

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