Grete Waitz to be honored at NYC race in June

This photo taken Nov. 3, 2006 shows Grete Waitz, nine-time New York City marathon winner, smiles at a New York news conference. A 10-kilometer race next month in Central Park will be dedicated to the Waitz, who died last month at 57 from cancer, as part of a season-long tribute to the winner of a record nine New York City Marathons. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

By The Associated Press

May 24, 2011 8:29 AM PT

NEW YORK —

The Mini 10K race next month in Central Park will be dedicated to the late Grete Waitz, part of a season-long tribute to the winner of a record nine New York City Marathons.

The women’s road race on June 11 will feature a medal with the words “Remembering Grete.” Waitz died last month at 57 from cancer. Her husband, Jack, will lead a group of friends among the 7,000 entrants in the 6.2-mille run organized by New York Road Runners.

Waitz won the Mini 10K a record five times and shares the record with Tegla Loroupe of Kenya. The New York event started in 1972 as the first women’s-only road race.

“The Mini gave Grete the inspiration to start The Grete Waitz Run in Oslo in 1984, a race that 10 years later had 47,000 women running,” Jack Waitz said.

Also, a women’s 1,500-meter race will be renamed for the Norwegian at the Grand Prix Diamond League meet held the same day in New York.

A tribute will be held at the NYC Marathon on Nov. 6.