NEW YORK, October 22, 2013—The 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships marathon gold medalists,Marcel Hug and Manuela Schär, both of Switzerland, have entered the 2013 ING New York City Marathon wheelchair race, it was announced today by NYRR officials.

Hug, making his fourth appearance in New York, and Schär, in her New York debut, join a stacked field featuring “Triple Crown” winner Tatyana McFadden of the United States and the 2011 champions, Amanda McGrory of the United States and Masazumi Soejima of Japan, for the November 3 race.

The men’s and women’s pro fields combined feature 27 Paralympians, 18 World Championships individual medal winners, and 10 reigning major marathon race champions.

“The additions of Marcel and Manuela simply add to the already spectacular field of Paralympians and champions assembled,” said Bob Laufer, the coordinator of the wheelchair division and athletes with disabilities for the ING New York City Marathon. “This will be a race to remember.”

Last summer Hug, 27, raced to victory at the IPC Athletics World Championships Marathon in one hour, 28 minutes, and 44 seconds. He was the 2011 and 2012 BMW Berlin Marathon champion and was second in this year’s Virgin London Marathon. His best finish in New York was third, in 2009.

Schär, 28, is having a stellar 2013 campaign. She won the IPC Athletics World Championships Marathon in 1:49:45, won the BMW Berlin Marathon, and was second in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.        

Nationally, the ING New York City Marathon will be presented live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes+ from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST. For those who have video subscriptions with affiliated providers, the race will also be available via WatchESPN. Locally, New Yorkers can watch the race on ABC7 or 7online.com from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., or via WatchABC on mobile devices. Pre-race features from the start at Fort Wadsworth will broadcast live at 7:00 a.m. on ABC7, 7online.com and WatchABC. Additionally, a national highlights show will air from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on local ABC affiliates. International viewers can watch the broadcast via a live digital stream from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST on 7online.com.

Check out On the Run at ontherun.nyrr.org for behind-the-scenes access to the ING New York City Marathon. On the Run is a must-see for runners of all ages and abilities. The program airs at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday of race week, 5:00 p.m. Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. Monday, and on demand at ontherun.nyrr.org.

For the latest Marathon news, updates, features, and media information, please visit the NYRR online media room at media.nyrr.org or follow us on Twitter @nyrrnews and @nyrr_prowheeler.

About the ING New York City Marathon

NYRR’s premier event, the ING New York City Marathon is the most loved and most inclusive marathon in the world, attracting elite athletes and recreational runners alike for the challenge and thrill of a lifetime. The race has grown tremendously since it began in 1970 with just 127 runners racing four laps of Central Park. Now, some 48,000 participants from all over the globe flock to New York City every November for an adrenaline-filled road tour of all five boroughs, starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and ending in Central Park. Some run for prize money or bragging rights, others for charity or their personal best. All are cheered on by more than two million live spectators and a TV audience of 330 million.

NYRR is proud to be a part of the World Marathon Majors—an alliance with the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW Berlin, and Bank of America Chicago marathons—to advance the sport, raise awareness and increase interest and involvement in participatory and professional marathon running globally. A signature element is the WMM series, which offers a $1 million prize purse to be split equally between the top male and the top female marathoner in the world.