New York, October 26, 2016 — More than 3,000 youth runners will participate in youth running events surrounding TCS New York City Marathon race week and race day, including the NYRR Youth Jamboree Presented by Tata Consultancy Services, TCS Run with Champions, and NYRR Youth Invitational. Additionally, the 2016 NYRR Youth Running Ambassadors of the Year and NYRR Team for Kids Ambassador Meb Keflezighi will be honored.

The youth runners of all ages that will be part of events during TCS New York City Marathon race week and race day are part of the more than 215,000 youth that are currently served nationally through NYRR’s free youth running programs and events, including 115,000 in New York City’s five boroughs..

On Saturday, October 29, New York Road Runners and Armory Track will welcome more than 1,500 New York City public school students from throughout the five boroughs to the famed New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory for the NYRR Youth Jamboree Presented by Tata Consultancy Services. The free event is open to youth from pre-K to high school, and will feature a variety of track and field events, including races, relays, long jump, and shot put. The day will also feature a special 55-meter dash for pre-K students, and the first-ever shuttle relay race for NYRR Striders (senior walkers), led by 101-year-old Ida Keeling who has held the 100-meter world-record for women ages 96-100. More information on the NYRR Youth Jamboree can be found here.

On Friday, November 4, the 17th annual TCS Run with Champions will bring together professional athletes participating in the TCS New York City Marathon and 1,000 New York City students from NYRR’s Mighty Milers and Young Runners free youth running programs for running and racing at the iconic TCS New York City Marathon finish line in Central Park. New this year, there will be a group of youth wheelchair athletes participating who are a part of NYRR’s recently launched free youth wheelchair training program for youth with physical disabilities.

On TCS New York City Marathon morning on Sunday, November 6, as the 50,000 runners start the race in Staten Island, 1,000 youth runners—members of NYRR’s Mighty Milers and Young Runners free youth running programs—will run the final miles of the TCS New York City Marathon course in Central Park, and finish at the race’s iconic finish line as part of the NYRR Youth Invitational at the TCS New York City Marathon.

The second annual NYRR Youth Invitational at the TCS New York City Marathon will feature a 1.8-mile run that starts on Central Park’s East Drive at East 85^th Street, near mile 24 of the TCS New York City Marathon course, and continues through Central Park to finish at the iconic TCS New York City Marathon finish line on West Drive at 67th Street. The NYRR Youth Invitational at the TCS New York City Marathon will begin at 8:45 a.m. and feature rolling starts by age group. For more information, visit http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/race-day/nyrr-youth-invitational.

Two special participants in the NYRR Youth Invitational are Karess Pringle-Wishner and Antoine Fonville, the recipients of the 2016 NYRR Youth Running Ambassador of the Year Award. Karess, a 12-year-old seventh grader at City Knoll Middle School 933 in Manhattan, and Antoine, an 11-year-old sixth grader at P.S. 256 in Brooklyn, will be presented with their official awards by NYRR and TCS leaders at a press conference on Thursday, November 3, at the NYRR Media Center at the TCS New York City Marathon Pavilion. The two youngsters are part of NYRR Young Runners, a free after-school program where students learn to run distances up to four miles while training together as a team.

As part of the youth running festivities throughout race week, Team for Kids Ambassador Meb Keflezighi will be honored at the NYRR Night of Champions benefit for his commitment to and support of NYRR’s free youth running programs. Keflezighi, who will serve as one of the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon Grand Marshals, finished 33rd at the Rio 2016 Olympic Marathon. He starred in the Big Apple in 2009 when he became the first American in 27 years to win the New York City Marathon. The four-time Olympian has finished in the top 10 in New York eight times and has appeared in the race 10 times. Team for Kids is NYRR’s charity running team, the largest in the TCS New York City Marathon, which raises funds for NYRR’s free youth running programs for kids who would otherwise have little or no access to regular physical activity.

Also representing as NYRR Team for Kids Ambassadors are professional athletes Molly Huddle and Tatyana McFadden, who will be running the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon.

Many NYRR youth and community running programs and events are supported by NYRR’s Premier Partner, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon, and NYRR’s Official Youth and Community Services Partner.

The 2016 TCS New York City Marathon will be televised live on Sunday, November 6, on WABC-TV, Channel 7 in the New York tristate area from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET, and for the rest of the nation on ESPN2 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. The NYRR Youth Invitational will be featured as part of the WABC-TV, Channel 7 live broadcast.

For the latest TCS New York City Marathon news and media information, please visit the NYRR online media center.  Also, follow us on Twitter @nyrrnews. To join the social media conversation, search #TCSNYCMarathon.

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“We are excited to offer more than 3,000 youth runners the opportunity to run and be inspired by the excitement surrounding the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon. Youth participants will be running in free events alongside champions of the sport, and also have the opportunity to race a portion of the iconic TCS New York City Marathon. These events provide a terrific highlight of our year-round free youth running programs and events that serve more than 215,000 youth across the country, and are creating the next generation of runners!”

 -Michael Capiraso, NYRR President and CEO

Youth runners of all ages and abilities will be participating in these action-packed TCS New York City Marathon events. It is especially exciting this year to include a group of youth wheelchair athletes from NYRR’s recently launched free youth wheelchair training program in our TCS Run with Champions.  These youngsters with physical disabilities will have an opportunity to run with, and be cheered on by, the top wheelchair athletes in the world.”

-Peter Ciaccia, NYRR President, Events, and Race Director, TCS New York City Marathon

“I am honored and proud to be a NYRR Team for Kids Ambassador for the third year in a row. As a father of three young girls, I feel very passionate about children’s fitness. With the support of thousands of runners across the country who participate in races and events on behalf of NYRR’s Team for Kids, youngsters who may not have access to regular physical activity are able to participate in free running programs and events such as the exciting youth events that NYRR provides. I am also very excited to be honored with Jack Rudin at the NYRR Night of Champions benefit that supports these free youth running programs.”

-Meb Keflezighi, NYRR Team for Kids Ambassador, NYRR Night of Champions Honoree, and four-time Olympian

“It’s a huge honor for me to be awarded the 2016 NYRR Youth Running Ambassador of the Year award!  I started running with my mom for fun in Prospect Park when I was eight-years-old and never thought that running would help me become more confident academically and socially. I’m looking forward to running the NYRR Youth Invitational on Marathon morning on November 6, although the 1.8-mile course is a bit longer than the one-mile, which is my favorite distance!”

- Karess Pringle-Wishner, 2016 NYRR Youth Running Ambassador of the Year Award Recipient (Girl)

“I started running three years ago when my dad started the NYRR Young Runners track team at my school and he was the coach. I like to run because it’s fun, and also because it keeps me healthy. My favorite race to run is the two-mile, as it’s not too short or too long, so I’m excited to run the NYRR Youth Invitational on Marathon morning on November 6, as I think I’m going to do really well!”

- Antoine Fonville, 2016 NYRR Youth Running Ambassador of the Year Award Recipient (Boy)