Los Angeles, CA--March 17, 2011--Universal Sports will provide LIVE broadcast and online coverage of the 2011 Honda Los Angeles Marathon. The network’s nationwide coverage, excluding Los Angeles, will begin on Sunday, March 20, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The 26th annual race will feature over 20,000 entrants running along the 26.2 mile “Stadium to Sea” course that starts at Dodger Stadium and ends at the Santa Monica Pier. Runners are competing for the winner’s prize of $25,000 in cash and a new Honda Insight EX sedan with navigation, as well as trying to win the unique Marathon Challenge, which rewards the first runner to cross the finish line – man or woman – with a $100,000 bonus.
For the first time, Southern California-based footwear and apparel maker K-Swiss has teamed up with Universal Sports to be the presenting sponsor of the national telecast. The broadcast team will consist of veteran running analyst Toni Reavis, who has provided commentary for all 25 prior Los Angeles Marathons, and local TV sports news anchor Derrin Horton. Following the live airing, Universal Sports will offer an encore presentation of the marathon at 10:00 p.m. ET. Live race coverage, highlights and news of the event will also be available at the network’s website, http://www.universalsports.com.
Kenyan Wesley Korir, 2009 and 2010 champion, highlights this year’s field in the men’s competition. Korir will be attempting to achieve his third consecutive victory, which would make him the first ever in L.A. Marathon history to three-peat. He faces tough competition in countryman Benjamin Maiyo, who enters this year’s race with a time of 2:07:09, the fastest recorded time of any man in the 2011 field. Maiyo recorded his top time in the 2005 L.A. Marathon, where he finished second.
On the women’s side, U.S. All-Americans Amy Hastings and Heather Wood will be making their marathon debuts. They are up against Mare Diaba of Ethiopia, with the fastest time in the 2011 women’s field at 2:25:27, and Buzenesh Deba of Ethiopia, whose personal best is 2:27:24.
The Honda Los Angeles Marathon celebrity roster is spotlighted by Chef Gordon Ramsay and musician Flea, who is running for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music.
And of course, check back here to Everymantri for the official race results on Sunday, March 20!
