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Woman Selling Marathon Medals Online Was Event Volunteer, Organizers Say

By Gustavo Solis | November 6, 2015 6:20pm | Updated on November 8, 2015 7:14pm
 New York City Road Runners is investigating the unauthorized sale of 17 2015 New York City Marathon medals being sold on eBay for $89.99 a piece.
New York City Road Runners is investigating the unauthorized sale of 17 2015 New York City Marathon medals being sold on eBay for $89.99 a piece.
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NEW YORK CITY — The eBay user selling New York City Marathon medals online was a volunteer assigned to wrap runners in heat blankets once they crossed the finish line, race organizers confirmed Friday.

Elyce Rivera, of New Jersey, sold 10 finisher medals online for $90 and $100, according to her account. 

When asked about the medals by phone, Rivera maintained her innocence.

"You've caused me an incredible amount of problems," she said. "I've done nothing wrong. I just explained everything [to race organizers] and we are good."

However the New York Road Runners said it did not authorize Rivera or anyone else to sell finisher medals online. Their investigation is far from over, spokesman Chris Weiller said.

"We appreciated talking to her, but that is the beginning of the investigation," he said.

Rivera was a volunteer assigned to work in the heat sheet area, which is where runners who have finished the marathon go to get a sheet wrapped around them, Weiller said.

Part of the NYRR's investigation, which will likely carry over to next week, will try to determine how Rivera got a hold of the medals she sold, Weiller added.

Rivera told NYRR's legal team her version of events, which Weiller declined to disclose because of the ongoing investigation. 

She too declined to talk about her conversation with NYRR's representatives.

"Talk to their legal team," she said. 

Friday afternoon every item that Rivera had posted for sale had been taken down from the site.

Weiller added that this should not reflect poorly on marathon volunteers. 

“We have 10,000 volunteers taking care of 50,000 runners,” he said. “They are critically important to the day, very important to New York Road Runners, and we are very proud of our volunteers.”