by Mutwiri Mutuota and Agencies

Boston Champions Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Salina Kosgei are late additions to the November 1 ING New York City Marathon.

This follows the withdrawal of past ‘Big Apple’ champions; Paul Tergat (men) and Jelena Prokopcuka (women) from the race, according to communication from organisers.

Making the announcement, New York Road Runners president and CEO, Mary Wittenberg said, ""Like all Boston Marathon winners, Robert and Salina are proven champions," said Wittenberg. "They’ll both be looking to join the elite few who’ve become champions of both races."

Cheruiyot, 31, last competed in New York City in 2005, finishing fourth in 2:11:01. A four-time Boston Marathon champion (2003, ‘06-08), Cheruiyot is the Boston course-record holder (2:07:14, his personal best).

Earlier this year, he dropped out of the Boston race after 35K due to back pain; he ran the IAAF World Championships Marathon in August in Berlin, finishing fifth (2:10:46).

Cheruiyot has five World Marathon Majors (WMM) race victories, having won the Chicago Marathon in 2006, and was the inaugural WMM series champion (2006--07).

Kosgei, 32, will make her second appearance at the event. She finished fourth in 2005 in 2:25:30.

In April, Kosgei won the closest women’s race in the history of the Boston Marathon, crossing the finish line one second ahead of defending champion Dire Tune to win in 2:32:16.

leg injury

In 2008, Kosgei finished fourth at the London Marathon and was 10th in the Olympic marathon in Beijing.

The 2005 winner Tergat continues to suffer from a leg injury that forced his to abandonment from the Lisbon Half-Marathon earlier this month while Latvian Prokopcuka withdrew due to pregnancy. Irish Olympian Martin Falagan has also pulled out of the race.

Three-time London Marathon champion, Martin Lel and twice World Half silver medallist, Patrick Makau Musyoki will feature in the men’s race.

Also announced are slight modifications to marathon course for the 40th Running of the ‘Big Apple’ race.

The course has been modified in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at mile 8 and at McCarren Park at mile 12, in Queens coming off the Pulaski Bridge near mile 14, and in the Bronx just past mile 20. No changes have been made from mile 21 to the finish in Central Park.

prize purse

Athletes will be vying for a total guaranteed prize purse of $800,000 (Sh60.8m) the largest in race history.

In celebration of the 40th running of the New York City Marathon, a new champion’s bonus of $70,000 (Sh5.32m) will be awarded to any past champion who wins this year, bringing a former champion’s first-place prize this year to $200,000 (Sh15.2m).