Cheruiyot, Lel Pull Out Of New York City Marathon

NEW YORK (AP) — Kenyan stars Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Martin Lel have pulled out of next month's New York City Marathon because of leg injuries.

Lel won in New York in 2003 and 2007 and is a three-time London Marathon champion. NYC Marathon organizer New York Road Runners announced Tuesday that Lel had a right leg injury.

Cheruiyot is out with a groin injury. He has won the Boston Marathon four times, most recently in 2008, and was the runner-up in New York last year.

The Nov. 7 men's race will be headlined by the NYC Marathon debut of marathon world-record holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia and American Meb Keflezighi's shot at defending his title.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.