Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Monday, November 6, 2000

Release #423-00

 
Contact:

Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter 212/788-2958

MAYOR GIULIANI PRESENTS KEYS TO THE CITY
TO NEW YORK CITY MARATHON WINNERS

Presents Crystal Apples to Top New York City Finishers

Deputy Mayor for Operations Joseph J. Lhota, on behalf of Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, today presented Keys to the City to the winners of yesterday's 31st New York City Marathon. The Deputy Mayor also presented Crystal Apples to the top New York City finishers, and congratulated everyone who participated in the 26.2-mile, five-borough course.

"I want to congratulate the winners of this year's New York City Marathon," said Deputy Mayor Lhota. "For thirty years the New York City Marathon has been a tradition for runners from all over the world. 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 participants, and thank the New York Road Runners Club for organizing this quintessential New York City event."

Mr. Abdelkhader El Mouaziz of Morocco became the first Moroccan to ever win the New York City Marathon when he completed the race in 2 hours, 10 minutes, 9 seconds. Ms. Ludmila Petrova of Russia became the first Russian to win the New York City Marathon when she finished with a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, 45 seconds.

This is the first year the New York City Marathon recognized wheelchair participants. Mr. Kamel Ayari of New York City won the men's push-wheel wheelchair division with a time of 1 hour, 53 minutes, 50 seconds; while Ms. Thi Xuan Anh Nugyen of Vietnam finished in 2 hours, 46 minutes and 47 seconds.

The men's winner of the handcycle wheelchair division was Mr. Joseph Dowling of Connecticut who finished with a time of 1 hour, 54 minutes and 25 seconds. Ms. Helene Hines of New York City was the first woman to finish, with a time of 1 hour, 57 minutes and 27 seconds.

Deputy Mayor Lhota presented a Crystal Apple to Mr. Arsenio Ortiz of Ozone Park who finished 25th overall, who became the top New York City male finisher for the second year-in-a-row, with a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, 26 seconds. Deputy Mayor Lhota also presented a Crystal Apple to Ms. Gordon Bakoulis, of Manhattan, who was the top female finisher from New York City, finishing 16th overall, with a time of 2 hours, 45 minutes and 17 seconds.

Abdelkhader El Mouaziz received $65,000, a new car and a scooter for winning, as well as an additional $10,000 for running under 2 hours, 10 minutes. Ludmila Petrova also received $65,000, a new car and a scooter, as well as an additional $25,000 for breaking 2 hours, 26 minutes.

The New York City Marathon's difficult 26.2-mile course took more than 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 each paid a $1 entry fee, raced four laps around 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.

Joseph Chebet of Kenya and Adriana Fernandez of Mexico won the 1999 New York City Marathon in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 14 seconds, and 2 hours, 25 minutes and 6 seconds, respectively.

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