Lebow, Weitz honoured by New York Marathon

Two icons of the New York Marathon, Fred Lebow and Grete Weitz, will be inducted posthumously into the New York Road Runners Hall of Fame, the organization announced Thursday.

Lebow, the founder of the famous event, and Weitz, one of the greatest female distance runners of all-time, will have their Hall of Fame banners raised at the Central Park finish line, on Friday, Nov. 4, two days before the race.

They will become the first inductees in an annual ceremony, New York Road Runners President and CEO Mary Wittenberg said.

“Today is just the first step in honouring all of the legendary figures who, through their triumph and contributions, have made NYRR and the Marathon what they are today,” said Wittenberg. “It is only proper that we begin by saluting these two towering legends of NYRR and our sport who are forever linked, most memorably at the 1992 race when Grete accompanied Fred on his emotional run through the city.”

Lebow and Waitz were side-by-side for an emotional run in 1992. Lebow’s cancer was in remission and he was determined to complete the marathon, while Waitz kept him company, crossing the finish line hand-in-hand. Lebow died of brain cancer in 1994. Waitz, a nine-time New York Marathon champion, passed away this April, losing her battle with cancer.

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