Marathon debut for Marie

IRISH Olympian Marie Davenport will run her first marathon next month when she takes on the hallowed 26.2 mile course around New York City.

Race organisers, the New York Road Runners, have called a news conference for this afternoon in Manhattan at which they will officially announce that the 29-year-old Clarewoman will be running the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 7.

Davenport, formerly Marie McMahon, lives in Chester, Connecticut, close to where she trains with her former collegiate coach Ray Treacy at Providence, Rhode Island.