New York, September 8, 2010—Reigning USA Half-Marathon champion Antonio Vega, 2009 USA Cross Country Championship runner-up Tim Nelson, and 2008 Olympian Blake Russell are part of a robust field of American standouts that will be joined by Canadian 10,000-meter record-holder Simon Bairu and Mexican standout Madaí Pérez at the ING New York City Marathon 2010 on Sunday, November 7.

Leading the American contingent are the previously announced defending men’s champion Meb Keflezighi, 2008 Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, and 2008 Olympic 10,000-meter bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan, making her debut at the marathon distance.

In conjunction with the ING New York City Marathon, New York Road Runners will host the 2010 USA Women’s Marathon Championship, offering a special USA Championship-only prize purse of $150,000.

Other top contenders for the United States at the ING New York City Marathon 2010 include 1996 Olympian Linda Somers Smith, Katie MacGregor, Mary Akor, Paige Higgins, Serena Burla, and Sally Meyerhoff in the women’s race, and 2006 women’s wheelchair winner Amanda McGrory and last year’s men’s wheelchair runner-up Krige Schabort.

“We are so pleased to welcome this slate of phenomenal runners and stories,” said Wittenberg. “We have it all in this year’s race: debutants like Tim and Simon, comeback runners like Blake and Serena, and former champions like Amanda and Krige. The athletes announced today join our already robust and exciting fields.”