Olympians Deena Kastor, Dathan Ritzenhein, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Matt Tegenkamp, and Lopez Lomong will headline the field for the inaugural NYRR Dash to the Finish Line during ING New York City Marathon weekend, it was announced today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

Joining them will be three top contenders to make their first Olympic teams in 2012: Ben True, Kenya's Sally Kipyego, and the previously announced Molly Huddle, the American record-holder at 5000 meters.

The NYRR Dash to the Finish Line, on Saturday, Nov. 5, will offer a flat-and-fast, timed 5K (3.1-mile) course through the heart of Manhattan, starting near the United Nations, crossing Midtown via 42nd Street, and heading uptown to Central Park and the famed ING New York City Marathon finish line. All runners are invited. More information, including registration, is available at www.nyrr.org/races/2011/dash.

Both Kastor, 38, and Ritzenhein, 28, are making comebacks aimed at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in January: Kastor after giving birth to her first child in February, and Ritzenhein after injuries that have prevented him from racing since finishing eighth in last year's ING New York City Marathon.

"This is a great first step for me to making the 2012 Olympic team and putting the past year behind me," said Ritzenhein, a two-time Olympian and three-time U.S. cross-country champion. "After a full year off from racing, I can't think of a better place to make my return. I've had great comebacks in New York in the past and can't wait to do it again."

Kastor , the American record-holder (2:19:36) and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in the marathon, began her comeback at the NYRR New York Mini 10K in June, and recently won the Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half-Marathon in 1:12:23.

"As I continue my focus and training for the Olympic Trials marathon in January, this race will certainly be a 'dash' for me," said Kastor, "but it's another way to enjoy marathon week in New York."

Lewy Boulet, 38, is a 2008 Olympian in the marathon and in August became the first American woman since 2003 to win the Falmouth Road Race. She set personal bests at both 5000 and 10,000 meters this summer. Tegenkamp, 29, a 2008 Olympian at 5000 meters, is one of only five American men to ever run under 13 minutes for 5000 meters, while Lomong, 26, represented the U.S. in Beijing at 1500 meters and was the flag bearer for Team USA during Opening Ceremonies.

True and Kipyego, both 25, stepped up to the international stage in 2011. True finished as top American at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships before going on to win U.S. road titles at 5K and 10K; Kipyego, whose nine NCAA titles equal the record of Suzy Favor Hamilton, won a 10,000-meter silver medal at the IAAF World Championships this summer and finished second at the NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile.