FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laurie Davison
Anick Losier
Media Relations
613.277.2980
613.294.9544
DAVID CHERUIYOT SETS COURSE RECORD AT ING OTTAWA MARATHON
Lioudmila Kortchaguina and Matthew McInnes win Canadian Championship
Sunday, May 27, 2007 – Ottawa, Ontario – Excitement was palpable at the ING
Ottawa Marathon as Kenyan David Cheruiyot set a new course record, crossing
the finish line with a personal best time of 2:10:35. The previous course
record was held by Elly Rono, also from Kenya, with a time of 2:11:47, set
in 2004. Cheruiyot was followed five seconds later by last year's Ottawa
ING Marathon champion, Abderrahime Bouramdane who clocked in at 2:10:40.
Vincent Kiplagat was third with a time of 2:10:48. Toronto-native Matthew
McInnis was the top Canadian for the second time in three years, placing 10
th, with a time of 2:18:06.
"I came back to Ottawa this year because it is a great race," said David
Cheruiyot, winner of the ING Ottawa Marathon. "The new course is amazing
and it is obvious that the organizers truly care about the athletes and the
sport of running."
In the women's category, Canadian Lioudmila Kortchaguina won her third
consecutive Canadian title and second consecutive ING Ottawa Marathon
women's title, with a time of 2:31:56. She was followed by Ethiopians
Kebebush Haile and Yeshi Esayias with times of 2:35:41 and 2:36:57
respectively.
"We're thrilled with the outcome," says Susan Longbottom, President of the
Ottawa Race Weekend. "We've recorded a new course record, a new
participation record and an overall growth of 3%. We also hosted the
Canadian Marathon Championships, the Masters' Championships and our first
ever Marathon Forum on Friday. It can be deemed an incredible success."
First National Forum on the State of Marathon Running in Canada
On Friday, May 25, the Ottawa Race Weekend played host to the first
National Forum on the State of Marathon Running in Canada. Assembling
stakeholders from diverse organizations, past and present Canadian elite
marathoners and other key figures from the running world, the Forum was
aimed at developing winning strategies for building the future of the sport
in Canada. "This is a really positive move in the right direction," says
past Canadian champion, Bruce Deacon. "Bringing people together from so
many different parts of the running community is a key first step." Some of
the key initiatives stemming from the meeting:
- Develop strategies to capture athletes at an early age;
- Generate awareness and exposure within the Canadian media;
- Find a way to solve the funding gaps for athletes and coaches.
"As organizers of the premiere running event in this country, we feel our
role extends beyond holding a weekend event. This is why we feel it is
important to contribute to the development of the sport itself," says
Manuel Rodrigues, Vice-President and the co-founder of the Forum.
Canadian Simon Bairu wins the MDS Nordion 10K in an exciting finish
Saturday's MDS Nordion 10K saw Canadian Simon Bairu pass Catherine "the
Great" Ndereba just over one kilometer from the finish, crossing the line
at 28: 29.1. Because the elite women were given a three minute and 51
second head start, the "battle of the sexes" win earned Simon a $5,000 (US)
bonus, in addition to the 10K prize money ($5,000 CND). Catherine Ndereba
took first place in the women's category with a finishing time of 33:01:2.
Ottawa Race Weekend again grows by 3%
The Ottawa Race Weekend has again achieved record participation, with over
29,641 runners taking part in the six races, representing a 3% growth in
the number of runners over last year.
Participation by event:
ING Ottawa Marathon: 3691
ING Ottawa Half Marathon: 8861
ING Family 2K: 2554
Pfizer Wheelchair Marathon: 10
MDS Nordion 10K: 7538
MDS Nordion 5K: 6987
Skipper breaks own record
Chris Baron, a 30-year old athlete from Oakville, Ontario, managed to
eclipse his own Guiness World Record for skipping a marathon with a time of
4:28:49. The previous record was 4: 49.39. This was Baron's second take at
the record and he chose the ING Ottawa Marathon for this feat again this
year. "In 2005, when I contacted the organizers, they embraced the idea and
made it possible for me. It has really become my favorite event," says
Chris.
Top 10 male finishers
1. David Cheruiyot (Kenya): 2:10:35
2. Abderrahime Bouramdane (Morroco): 2:10:40
3. Bencent Kiplagat (Kenya): 2:10:48
4. John Kelay (Kenya): 2:11:10
5. Hilary Kimaiyo (Kenya): 2:11:13
6. Simon Njoroge (Kenya): 2:11:14
7. Amos Matui (Kenya): 2:14:11
8. David Karanja (Kenya): 2:17:01
9. Hillary Koech (Kenya): 2:17:41
10. Matthew McInnis (Canada): 2:18:06
Top 10 female finishers
1. Lioudmila Kortchaguina (Canada): 2:31:56
2. Kebebush Haile (Ethiopia): 2:35:41
3. Yeshi Esayias (Ethiopia): 2:36:57
4. Zebenaye Moges (Ethiopia): 2:41:26
5. Suzanne Evans (Canada): 2:46:21
6. Lisa Harvey (Canada): 2:48:56
7. Isabelle Ledroit (Canada): 2:51:20
8. Monia Cherop (Kenya): 2:53:16
9. Liza Maguire (Canada): 2:53:43
10. Myriam Grenon (Canada): 2:54:02
Top 3 Masters (male)
1. Louis Phillipe-Garnier (Canada) 2:36:21
2. Jean-Pierre Poli (Canada) 2:42:28
3. Kevin Searle (Canada) 2:44:28
Top 3 Masters (female)
1. Isabelle Ledroit (Canada) 2:51:20
2. Liz Maguire (Canada) 2:53:43
3. Beverley Wells (Canada) 3:01:12
Top 3 Canadian (male)
1. Matthew McInnis 2:18:06
2. Matthew Normington 2:20:52
3. Calvin Staples 2:24:21
Top 3 Canadian (female)
1. Lioudmila Kortchaguina 2:31:56
2. Suzanne Evans 2:46:21
3. Lisa Harvey 2:48:56
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