All smiles - Deriba Merga wins in Boston (© Getty Images)
Deriba Merga, this year’s Boston Marathon winner, is setting his sights on the MDS Nordion 10K at this year’s Ottawa Race Weekend on 23 May.
The MDS Nordion 10K is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
“I love to race and I love competition. When my manager told me about the opportunity to compete in Ottawa and attempt the 10K world record, I was very excited,” Merga said. “I have heard a lot about this great event. I am happy and ready to come to Ottawa and run a new world record.”
The record Merga will be chasing is 27:01* set by Micah Kogo in Brunssum, The Netherlands, on 29 March this year. An added inventive is a $100,000 record bonus.
Merga has already had a great year. He won and set a new Marathon course record of 2:07:52 in Houston in January. He tied the 15K World record of 41:29 in February en route to his third place finish in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon. And in April, he decisively won the Boston Marathon.
Patrick Makau, the first place winner in that February Half Marathon will be providing stiff competition for the 10K World record. Makau is the second fastest half-marathoner in history. He was one second behind when Deriba tied the 15K world record.
“Our fast and scenic 10K has extremely enthusiastic spectator support,” says Manny Rodrigues, Elite Athlete Coordinator, for Run Ottawa. “When combined with this year’s great competitors, it is a formula for a world record.”
Returning as a credible contender this year is Julius Kiptoo, last year’s MDS Nordion 10K winner. Hillary Kimaiyo, who has run the fastest ever 10K (26:01), albeit on a very downhill course also strongly believes he can take this world record.
Rodrigues feels this is the stiffest competition the Ottawa Race Weekend has ever seen.
Women also providing strong competition
Merga should also be keeping his eye on the women this year.
Women at the MDS Nordion 10K are given a head start and the first athlete across the line wins an additional $5000. Last year, 18-year-old Emebet Bacha lost the challenge to Julius Kiptoo by mere inches.
Bacha is returning this year to be challenged by two runners who have personal bests of more than a minute faster than Bacha’s 2008 winning time: Tebya Erkesso and Marina Ivanonva.
Other female runners expected to be in the lead pack include the 2008 3rd place finisher Hyvon Ngetich, Jane Murage, Jane Kibii and Canadian Tara Quinn-Smith.
Susan Marsh-Marconi for the IAAF
* pending the usual ratification procedures
