Chiappetta, co-founder of the New York City Marathon, and McGrory, two-time New York City Marathon champion, to be inducted at TCS New York City Marathon Opening Ceremony 

Hirsch, who served as NYRR Board Chair for nearly 20 years, to be presented with Abebe Bikila Award on the Citizens Stage  

New York, October 22, 2024 –  Ahead of the TCS New York City Marathon – the BEST DAY in New York City – nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR) will induct co-founder of the New York City Marathon Vince Chiappetta and two-time New York City Marathon champion Amanda McGrory into the 2024 NYRR Hall of Fame and present former NYRR Board Chair (2004–2023) George Hirsch with the 2024 Abebe Bikila Award.

“Before we welcome more than 50,000 runners for the best day in New York City, we are thrilled to celebrate the New York City Marathon’s storied history, including Vince, Amanda, and George,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners. “The TCS New York City Marathon would not be what it is today without the visionary leadership of Vince and George, and Amanda’s accomplishments on and off the roads have paved the way for wheelchair racers all over the world.”

NYRR Hall of Fame 

The NYRR Hall of Fame originated on November 4, 2011, during the first-ever New York City Marathon Opening Ceremony celebration in Central Park. It honors legendary figures in the sport of running, who through their triumphs and contributions have made New York Road Runners and the TCS New York City Marathon what they are today. This year, the 2024 NYRR Hall of Fame will return to the TCS New York City Marathon Opening Ceremony Presented by United Airlines, Friday November 1, with inductees being celebrated before runners kick off race weekend.

The 2024 TCS New York City Marathon Opening Ceremony Presented by United Airlines will also feature the Parade of Nations – a showcase of runners from all over the world – and will conclude with fireworks over the finish line. In 1970, while serving as the president of New York Road Runners, Chiappetta and Fred Lebow, who was inducted into the NYRR Hall of Fame in 2011, spearheaded and codirected the first New York City Marathon in Central Park, with 127 entrants, 55 finishers, and a $1 entry fee. Chiappetta ran the race and finished 18th. A strong supporter of gender equality, Chiappetta long advocated for women to run alongside men, and convinced Nina Kuscsik, a trailblazer for women in running, to run the inaugural New York City Marathon. Born and raised in the Bronx, Chiappetta taught biology and coached at Yeshiva University for over 40 years. He began his running career at New York University in the mid-1950s and has since run more than 114 marathons.

“I am thrilled to have been with the guys since the beginning of this amazing organization,” said Vince Chiappetta. McGrory made her New York City Marathon debut in 2006, breaking the tape first. Five years later, she set an event record, eclipsing the previous mark by more than two and a half minutes. That same year McGrory won the London and Paris Marathons and took home bronze at the World Para Athletics Championships marathon. During her illustrious career, McGrory earned seven Paralympic and 13 world championship medals. Still heavily involved in the sport, she works full-time as the Archivist and Collections Curator at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, while lending her voice and expertise to Abbott World Marathon Majors  broadcasts, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Most recently she was part of the broadcast team calling the action for track and field at this year’s Paralympics in Paris.

“The New York City Marathon holds a special place in my heart as the site of my first big marathon win in 2006 and my final race in 2021,” said Amanda McGrory. “It is a great and unexpected honor to be inducted into the NYRR Hall of Fame, and a testament to the organization’s dedication to the inclusion and support of all athletes, including those with disabilities.”

Abebe Bikila Award 

The Abebe Bikila Award, presented since 1978, is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the sport of distance running.

This year’s recipient is George Hirsch, an icon of the running industry who has championed the sport for more than five decades. From 2004 to 2023 Hirsch served as Chair of the New York Road Runners Board of Directors and is now the Chair Emeritus. He is a founder of the five borough New York City Marathon and is the founder of the popular Midnight Run. A lifelong runner, Hirsch has run 40 marathons with a personal best of 2:38 at age 44.

A lifelong runner, he ran New York’s first-ever five-borough marathon in 2:49. Throughout his storied career he has been the founding publisher and president of New York magazine, the worldwide publisher of Runner’s World and the founding publishing director of Men’s Health magazine. In the 1980s, Hirsch ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, and he also served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness from 1986 to 1988. Over the years he has provided television commentary for prominent racing events such as the Olympic Games, the U.S. Olympic Trials, and major marathons including Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Now in his 90s, Hirsch continues to run.

“I am honored to be added to the distinguished list of Abebe Bikila award winners beginning with the first one Ted Corbitt,” said George Hirsch. Hirsch will be presented with the prestigious award on the Citizens Stage at the TCS New York City Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance, Thursday, October 31.

The TCS New York City Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is one of the country’s largest running expositions, with an array of New Balance gear and accessories including the official TCS New York City Marathon collection, and course amenities offered by New York Road Runners partners. There are numerous vendors and exhibitors, a runners’ name wall featuring all 50,000-plus registered entrants, the NYRR Running Lab featuring tips and insights from our coaches, and more.

About New York Road Runners (NYRR)   

A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving nearly a half a million New Yorkers annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.