By Josh Williams
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — New York City road runners will face a tougher challenge than just 13.1 miles of road when thy hit the pavement for a half-marathon on March 21.
Reigning NYC Marathon champ Meb Keflezighi will compete in the NYC Half-Marathon race, according to the New York Road Runners, who organize the event.
With $100,000 in prize money, the largest of its kind in the country for a half-marathon, the March 21 race has become a who’s who of elite distance runners.
Keflezighi became the first American to win the NYC marathon in 27 years with a time of 2:09:15 in the Nov. 1 race. Ethiopian marathon runner Haile Gebrselassie is back running in the half-marathon after taking home first place in 2007.
“Meb and the American Athletes are stronger then ever," said New York Road Runners CEO Mary Wittenberg. "Each will be looking to take on Haile and the others in what promises to be a spectacular run through the city streets.”
Fellow Olympians Anthony Famiglietti and Abdi Abdirahman will also join Keflezighi on a course that cuts through Times Square and ends with a heart-pounding finish in Battery Park City.
The men's and women's champions will each take home $20,000 in prize money this year. Last year over 19,000 people applied to run in the race and over 10,000 people finished it, according to the New York Road Runners.
