NEW YORK - The field for the ING New York City Marathon 2004 is one of the most exciting ever. Living up to its reputation as an international race, the marathon - to be contested on Sunday, November 7 - will once again feature an outstanding and diverse field of athletes from across the globe. The professional athlete field includes world champions, Olympians, world and national record-holders and top athletes from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Kenya, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine and the United States, to name just a few.

Headlining this year's elite field are Americans Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. The Team Running USA dynamic duo medaled at this summer's Olympic marathon. Kastor, the women's bronze medalist, became only the second American woman in Olympic history to medal in the event. In the men's marathon, Keflezighi was the first American man in 28 years to earn a medal, the silver on the Games' closing day.

On the women's side, Kastor will be challenged by marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe, who was a last-minute addition to the field after deciding just days before the race she was fit enough to compete. It will be Radcliffe's first race since failing to complete the marathon and 10,000 meters at the Athens Olympics in August.

Joining the trio is a large group of returning race champions, including defending champion and course record holder Margaret Okayo ('01/'03), Ludmila Petrova of Russia (2000) and John Kagwe ('97-98) and Tegla Loroupe ('94-95) of Kenya. Additionally, two-time defending wheelchair division champ Krige Schabort returns, joined by 2001 winner Saul Mendoza of Mexico and 2000 champ Kamel Ayari of Tunisia.

In addition to the two Olympic medalists, this year's field features one of the strongest U.S. men's fields ever assembled outside USA Championships or Olympic Trials event. Arizona's Abdi Abdirahman (Team Running USA) and Indiana's Bob Kennedy, both double Olympians and among America's best ever at 5000 and 10,000 meters, will step up to the marathon distance for the first time. The race will also showcase Oregon's Dan Browne, a 2004 Olympian at 10,000 meters and the marathon, as well as Michigan's Ryan Shay (Team Running USA and the 2003 USA Marathon Champion), New Jersey's Matt Downin (Team Running USA), the top American at the ING New York City Marathon 2003, and Long Island native and former St. John's University star Chris Graff.

These athletes will compete for the second annual Alberto Salazar Award, named after the three-time New York City Marathon champion and awarded to the top American male and female finishers in the ING New York City Marathon. Salazar was the last American to win New York (1982). So like the recent Olympics will the U.S. end its long marathon drought in the Big Apple too?

This year's marathon will continue its tradition of hosting buzz-worthy marathon debutantes. Abdirahman and Kennedy will be joined by 2004 World Cross Country champion Benita Johnson of Australia, who appears to be rounding into form after two wins against outstanding fields in recent weeks. Marie Davenport, an Irish Olympian who attended Providence College in Rhode Island and now lives in Connecticut, hopes to continue on the tradition of impressive performances by Irish athletes in New York City.

For the second year in a row, the ING Run for Something Better puts four professional women runners in a head-to-head competition within the ING New York City Marathon. The athletes compete against each other to raise money a New York City Park. Additionally, ING will make a donation to a hometown charity of the athlete's choosing. This year, the ING Run for Something Better will feature Kastor, Johnson of Australia, ING Run for Something Better 2003 top finisher Lornah Kiplagat and Mexico's Madai Perez, who is coached by two-time New York City Marathon winner German Silva.

The athletes also will be competing for a prize money purse of more than $530,000 with $100,000 plus a vehicle provided by smart awarded to the male and female champions.

In addition, NBC will broadcast a highlights show from 2-3pm EST. Check your local listings.

Find the latest ING New York City Marathon news and information at: www.ingnycmarathon.org/news/raceweek/index.html