PUBLISHED 11/03/2006
Neither will have an easy time of repeating as champion of the ING New York City Marathon. World recordholder (2:04:55) Tergat once again has to face Hendrick Ramaala, who battled him all the way to line in 2005. Olympic champion Stefano Baldini of Italy and silver medalist Meb Keflezighi are also in the hunt, along with Rodgers Rop, who won in Boston and New York City in 2002, and three other lesser-known Kenyans who've run 2:06s. Latvia's Prokopcuka also faces her 2005 runnerup, Susan Chepkemei, and a daunting field that includes U.S. hope and London Marathon champion Deena Kastor, Boston Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo, Olympic silver medalist Catherine Ndereba, and new World Road Running (20K) champ Lornah Kiplagat. ING New York City Marathon Director Mary Wittenberg calls this her "field of dreams."
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