World’s Largest 10K Prize ($) in NYC

Three WomenÛªs World Championship Medalists to Chase WorldÛªs Largest 10K Prize at 2016 UAE Healthy Kidney 10K on Saturday, May 14

Kenyans Edna Kiplagat, Mary Wacera and Cynthia Limo to put star power in womenÛªs lineup

MenÛªs field to be led by newly named Olympian Zane Robertson and United Airlines NYC Half runner-up Wilson Chebet

NYRR Youth Running SeriesÛª 1.7-mile race to be included in event for second consecutive year

New York, April 26, 2016ÛÓA
trio of IAAF World Championship medalists will headline the womenÛªs
professional athlete field at the 2016 UAE Healthy Kidney 10K in
Central Park on Saturday, May 14, it was announced today by Peter
Ciaccia, president of events for New York Road Runners and race director
of the TCS New York City Marathon.

Two-time IAAF World Championships Marathon gold medalist
Edna Kiplagat, two-time IAAF World Half-Marathon medalist Mary Wacera and reigning IAAF World Half Marathon Championships silver medalist
Cynthia Limo will race alongside the 2015 TCS New York City MarathonÛªs top American female finisher,
Laura Thweatt, in a chase for the $25,000 first-place prize ÛÒ
tied for the largest of any 10K race in the world and the largest of any
non-marathon race in the U.S.

Wilson Chebet and
Zane Robertson will both return to New York to highlight the
menÛªs field after finishing second and eighth, respectively, at the
United Airlines NYC Half in March.

ÛÏThree of the
worldÛªs top distance racers, Edna, Mary, and Cynthia, will join Laura,
the top American at the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon, in pursuit of
one of road racingÛªs largest prize purses at the
UAE Healthy Kidney 10K,Û said Ciaccia. ÛÏIn the menÛªs field, having
Wilson and Zane return to Central Park less than two months after
completing the United Airlines NYC Half is a true testament to their
commitment to racing NYRR events.Û

Kiplagat, 36, of
Kenya was the IAAF World Championships Marathon gold medalist in both
2011 and 2013. She has proven to be formidable in New York, having won
her New York City Marathon debut in

2010, and
following that with a second-place finish in the 2011 NYC Half and a
victory in the 2012 New York Mini 10K. Also the 2014 Virgin Money London
Marathon champion, Kiplagat and her husband,

Gilbert Koech,
are strong advocates for children. In addition to two biological
children of their own, they are raising the two children of KiplagatÛªs
late sister, and are also financially supporting the child
of their late neighbor.

ÛÏIÛªm very
much looking forward to racing the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K next month
for the first time,Û Kiplagat said. ÛÏIÛªve done the NYRRÛªs other three
big international events, so the UAE Healthy Kidney
10K will give me a new challenge. The last five years, I always ran
the London Marathon in April, so I could not be sharp for the shorter
spring road races after that. But this year, because I ran Tokyo in
February, I am fully recovered and have been able
to do good speed training. I know Central Park well, so I always feel
comfortable to race there.Û

Robertson, 26, of New Zealand, finished eighth in
his United Airlines NYC Half debut in March despite suffering
from a bad sinus infection. Just last week, he was named to his first
Olympic team and will be racing the 10,000 meters at the 2016 Rio Games.
Robertson has been residing in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, since he and his
twin brother, Jake, moved to Africa following high school in 2007 in
order to train among some of the worldÛªs best runners, including 2016
Boston Marathon champion Lemi Berhanu Hayle.
In 2014, Robertson brought New Zealand its first 5000-meter Commonwealth Games medal since 1962, capturing the bronze.

ÛÏIÛªm happy to be coming back to New York again
to race and build more experience on the streets,Û Robertson said. ÛÏItÛªs
a long-term ambition of mine to race the TCS New York City Marathon and
finish on the podium, or even win. The NYRR
family is amazing, and I really believe in what they are trying to
achieve with the youth. IÛªm looking forward to the race, especially with
one of my mates, Lucas Rotich. We trained together in 2008, and have
been great friends for a long time. Finally, we
can clash on the road.Û

Additional Top WomenÛªs Professional Runner Backgrounds

·
Cynthia Limo,
26, of Kenya, placed second at the IAAF World Half Marathon
Championships in March, earning her first individual medal on the world
stage,
along with a gold medal in the team competition. She raced a 1:06:04 at
FebruaryÛªs Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, which is the UAEÛªs premier
road race, and is currently the No. 1 road racer in the world according
to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians.

·
Mary Wacera,
27, of Kenya took third at this yearÛªs IAAF World Half Marathon
Championships following her silver-medal winning performance in 2014. In
both races, she contributed to KenyaÛªs overall team gold. In her only
UAE Healthy Kidney 10K appearance in 2014, Wacera finished third with a
time of 31:52.

·
Laura Thweatt,
27, of Boulder, CO, finished seventh in 2:28:23 in her TCS New York
City Marathon debut last November, which is the seventh fastest time
by an American woman in the event. Thweatt trains under coach Lee
Troop, a three-time Olympic marathoner for Australia, and is the worldÛªs
No. 1-ranked 10K runner in 2016.

Additional Top MenÛªs Professional Runner Backgrounds

·
Wilson Chebet,
30, of Kenya, was the runner-up in his United Airlines NYC Half debut
in March with a time of 1:01:35. He won three consecutive TCS Amsterdam
Marathon titles from 2011-2013. In 2014, he was runner-up at the Boston
Marathon, finishing just 11 seconds behind winner Meb Keflezighi, and
he was third the following year. In addition to his training, Chebet has
been involved with the Professional Athletes
Association of Kenya as an advocate for athletesÛª rights and stricter
doping controls in the country.

In addition to
the menÛªs and womenÛªs $25,000 first-place prizes, runners will vie for a
$30,000 Zayed Bonus awarded by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates
in honor of former UAE president Sheikh Zayed
Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan. The bonus prize will be given to any man who
breaks 27:35 (Leonard Patrick Komon, 2011 UAE Healthy Kidney 10K) and/or
any woman who breaks 30:44 (Lornah Kiplagat, 2002 New York Mini 10K).

Professional Men

Name

10K Personal Best

Click Here: new zealand rugby team jerseys

Twitter Handle

Wilson Chebet, KEN