Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Monday, November 8, 1999

Release #440-99

Contact: Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter 212/788-2958


MAYOR GIULIANI PRESENTS NEW YORK CITY MARATHON WINNERS JOSEPH CHEBET AND ADRIANA FERNANDEZ WITH KEYS TO THE CITY

Presents Crystal Apples To Top New York City Finishers
Over 31,000 Runners Participated In The 30th Running Of The New York City Marathon

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today presented Keys to the City to Joseph Chebet and Adriana Fernandez, the winners of yesterday's 30th running of the New York City Marathon. The Mayor also presented Crystal Apples to Arsenio Ortiz and Gillian Horovitz, the top New York City male and female finishers, and congratulated all the runners who ran the difficult 26.2-mile, five-borough course.

Mr. Chebet, of Kenya, finished first with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 14 seconds. Mr. Chebet won the Boston Marathon in April making him the first marathoner to sweep both races in the same year since Alberto Salazar in 1982. Ms. Fernandez, of Mexico, was the top female finisher with a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, 6 seconds, the second-fastest time in New York City Marathon history, and became the first Mexican woman to win an international marathon.

Arsenio Ortiz, of Ozone Park, who finished 18th overall, was the top New York City male finisher with a time of 2 hours, 21 minutes, 35 seconds. Gillian Horovitz, of Manhattan, was the top female finisher from New York City, finishing 11th overall, with a time of 2 hours, 46 minutes, 16 seconds.

"I want to congratulate this year's winners of the New York City Marathon - Joseph Chebet and Adriana Fernandez, as well as the two top finishers from New York City, Arsenio Ortiz and Gillian Horovitz, on their performances in yesterday's race," said Mayor Giuliani. "For thirty years the New York City Marathon has been a tradition for runners from all over the world. As one of the premier international sporting events in the world, the New York City Marathon attracts the best and the fastest from all over the world and is another reason why New York City is The Sports Capital of the World. I want to congratulate all of yesterday's runners, and thank the New York Road Runners Club for organizing this quintessential New York City event."

Joseph Chebet, who finished second in two previous New York City Marathons, received $50,000 and a new car for winning, as well as an additional $20,000 for running under 2 hours, 10 minutes. Adriana Fernandez, who also finished second in last year's race, also received $50,000 and a new car, and an additional $25,000 for breaking 2 hours, 26 minutes.

The New York City Marathon's difficult 26.2-mile course took over 31,000 runners through all five boroughs of the City. The race kicked off on the Staten Island side of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and ended in Central Park across from the Tavern on the Green. More than two million people were on hand to watch the Marathon, making it the world's largest spectator sporting event.

On September 13, 1970, New York Road Runners Club president Vince Chiappetta and entrepreneur Fred Lebow staged the inaugural New York City Marathon in Central Park. The 127 runners, who paid a $1 entry fee, raced the 26.2 miles through the Park with no water stops. In 1976, a decision was made to create a five-borough marathon that would showcase the City's many and diverse neighborhoods.

Last year's winners were men's champion John Kagwe of Kenya, who ran the 26.2 mile course in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 45 seconds; and women's champion Franca Fiaconi of Italy, who finished in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 17 seconds.

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