Courtesy: Running USA

Race applications for the 2002 New York City Marathon to be held on Sunday, November 3 will be available for runners and wheelchair participants on-line (www.nycmarathon.org) beginning January 29, with paper applications following later this week, announced Allan Steinfeld, New York Road Runners (NYRR) President and CEO and NYC Marathon Race Director.

Last year's NYC Marathon was one of the most emotional and memorable ones in the storied history of the five-borough race as the event literally helped the city get back on its feet after the September 11th attacks. A record 2.5 million spectators turned out to cheer nearly 25,000 starters. Running under nearly perfect weather conditions, champions Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia (2:07:43) and Margaret Okayo (2:24:21) of Kenya raced to huge paydays and course records. In addition, the 2001 NYC Marathon served as the USA Men's and Women's Marathon Championships. Deena Drossin (2:26:58) won the women's U.S. title in the fastest marathon debut by an American woman and Scott Larson (2:15:26) was the men's national champion. More than 60,000 applications were submitted for the 2001 NYC Marathon.

The 2002 NYC Marathon application fee will be increased this year by $10, reflecting increased race production costs. The new race fee of $60 for NYRR members ($70 for non-members) is on equal footing to that of other major marathons including Las Vegas and Los Angeles and is still below others including Boston, Marine Corps (Washington, DC) and Chicago.

"We regret having to raise the fees, but believe that runners will understand this necessity as we work to keep our standards the highest in the world," said Steinfeld.

Participants can apply online at www.nycmarathon.org. By mail, by sending in a #10 self-addressed stamped envelope to Marathon Entries, PO Box 1388 GPO, New York, NY 10116 or pick one up at the NYRR building at 9 East 89th Street. The deadline for all on-line and mail entries, completed in full and accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee of $7.00, is midnight June 1st. A random lottery drawing to fill most of the expected starting field of 30,000 will be held in mid-June.

Certain applicants may also gain guaranteed entry in the 2002 NYC Marathon. New York Road Runners members who completed nine NYRR scored races in 2001, participants who have run in 15 NYC Marathons and those entrants in the 2001 NYC Marathon who canceled prior to the race can bypass the lottery. Runners and wheelchair participants who have met the NYC Marathon qualifying times set forth on the 2002 application may also get guaranteed entries.