Grete Waitz: the late marathoner to be honoured in New York – Athletics News
Grete Waitz, the late marathon runner from Norway, who passed away on April 19 this year, at the age of 57, will be honoured by the Adidas Grand Prix and New York Road Runners (NYRR), on June 11. The announced honour is being conferred upon the late runner
due to her long association with both of the prestigious athletic events.
In the ceremony which will take place in New York, the Adidas Grand Prix will rename their Women’s 1500m event to the Grete Waitz 1500m event. This prestigious honour is given to the legendary runner, who claimed the highest number of titles (nine) in the
New York Marathon from 1978 to 1998, is also an acknowledgement of her splendid performance on the track in New York City.
After the announcement of the said honour, the Adidas Grand Prix, which is regarded as the sixth stop of the Samsung Diamond League series, will commence at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island.
Honouring the silver medallist of the 1984 Summer Olympics, New York Road Runners will dedicate the 40th running of their New York Mini 10K to Waitz. The former long distance runner’s association with this world’s original Women’s road race is
as old as, other major events of her career. Marking her distinction and dominance in the event, she holds the privilege of bagging a record five wins along with another formidable runner Tegla Loroupe. The mini race will commence in Central Park on June 11.
Waitz, who had won a number of important titles to boast her remarkable career, had been fighting with the disease of cancer for long. After her death, her achievements for the nation she belonged to were also acknowledged by the Norwegian government, who
buried the legendary runner with complete government honour. In Norwegian history, she is the sixth woman to be given this honour.
Paying his respects to Grete, President and CEO of New York Road Runners Mary Wittenberg said, “Grete was one of the true pioneers for women in our sport, and she had so much impact in so many ways, it’s only appropriate that our tributes start at the world’s
original women-only road race, the mini.”
Commenting on her association with the Mini race, Jack Waitz, her husband said, “The Mini was always an important race for Grete. It was the first women-only road race she ran. I am still impressed about the times Grete ran in Central Park. The Mini gave
Grete the inspiration to start the Grete Waitz Run in Oslo in 1984, a race that 10 years later had 47,000 women running.”
The acknowledgement and appreciation for the late athlete who initiated with her running career in 1972 while appearing in the summer Olympic in Munich, does not stop here. Future tributes are being planned in her memory. Some of such plans this year will
include ING New York City Marathon, which is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race and will commence on November 6.
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