2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team to Serve as New York City Marathon Grand Marshals
As Grand Marshals, the six Olympians will participate in race-week festivities and contribute to the live broadcast of the NYC Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 6.
New York Road Runners has announced that the Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team—Amy Cragg, Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Linden, Meb Keflezighi, Galen Rupp, and Jared Ward—will serve as the Grand Marshals of this year’s TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 6.
As Grand Marshals, the Olympians will ride in the lead vehicle with Peter Ciacca, president of events for New York Road Runners and race director of the New York City Marathon, through the 26.2-mile course on race day (with the exception of Rupp who will be unable to attend due to family commitments). They’ll also participate in race-week festivities, including the opening ceremony, and contribute to the live broadcast on WABC-TV, Channel 7 and ESPN2.
“With a fantastic showing in Rio, the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team proved to the world the future is bright for American distance running,” Ciacca said. “We’re honored to have Shalane, Des, Amy, Meb, Galen and Jared celebrate their amazing accomplishments, and represent the many talented Team USA Olympians, Paralympians, and all other U.S. athletes competing in the TCS New York City Marathon, as this year’s Grand Marshals.”
This will be the fourth time in the history of the New York City Marathon that the race has featured a Grand Marshal. The first was in 1979, appointed to Czech running legend and Olympic champion Emil Zatopek, in 2003 Grete Waitz who won a record nine New York Marathon titles, and last year’s Brooklyn-raised filmmaker Spike Lee.
“I am very honored and excited to serve as a Grand Marshal for the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon. I have run this special race 10 times since my marathon debut in 2002,” said Keflezighi who’s historic win in 2009 made him the first American in 27 years to win the race. “It will be fun, but a little different, to view this great race course and city on a lead vehicle instead of chasing the lead vehicles.”
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