The Associated Press
NEW YORK: Gete Wami and Dire Tune of Ethiopia committed on Monday to run in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 2.
Also set to run are Lyubov Morgunova of Russia, first-time marathoner Kim Smith of New Zealand, and 36-year-old Briton Hayley Haining, who set a personal record of 2 hours, 29 minutes, 18 seconds in the London Marathon this year.
Wami, 37, was the reigning World Marathon Majors series champion and runner-up to Paula Radcliffe at last year’s NYC Marathon.
Tune, 23, was the 2008 Boston Marathon champion and two-time winner and course record-holder of the Houston Marathon.
Morgunova, 37, won this year’s Rotterdam Marathon in a personal-best time of 2:25:12.
A two-time Olympian, Smith is one of New Zealand’s top distance runners, holding seven national records. Only two New Zealnders have won the NYC Marathon — Allison Roe in 1981 and Rod Dixon in 1983.
“We Kiwis have a great distance running tradition and I would love to enhance this tradition in New York City on Nov. 2,” Smith said. “I have always wanted to run the marathon distance and now is the right time for me.”