2:10:35 course record for David Cheruiyot in Ottawa (2007) (© Victah Sailer)
Ottawa, CanadaExcitement 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 winner, Abderrahime Bouramdane who clocked in at 2:10:40. Vincent Kiplagat was third with a time of 2:10:48.
"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 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.
Matthew McInnis won the Canadian national men's title, clocking 2:18:06.
"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."
Bairu wins "Battle of the Sexes" 10km
On Saturday (26), Canadian Simon Bairu took the MDS Nordion 10km, clocking 28:29.
The former University of Wisconsin student who won two NCAA Cross Country titles, defeated Ethiopian Chala Lemi (28:33) and Kenyan Linus Maiyo (28:46) for top honours, but also won the "Battle of the Sexes" for catching the 18-women elite field who started 3 minutes, 51 seconds ahead of the men. Kenyan Catherine Ndereba, suffering from a cough and cold throughout the week, left the women's field behind just beyond the six kilometre mark, but was unable to hold off the Both Bairu and Lemi who overtook her about a kilometre before the finish.
"I turned around five or six times to make sure I had the win," said Bairu, who trains with former teammates Matt Tegenkamp and Chris Solinsky.
Bairu, who was born in Saudia Arabia to an Ethiopian mother and Eritrean father, moved with his family as a child to Regina, Sasketchewan and has become of one Canada's leading distance runners.
Race organisers and Victah Sailer for the IAAF
Leading Results:
Marathon -
MEN:
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
MEN:
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
10 km -
MEN -
1. Simon Bairu (CAN) 28.29
2. Chala Lemi (ETH) 28.33
3. Linus Maiyo (KEN) 28.46
4. Samuel Kosgei (KEN) 28.48
5. George Simoi (KEN) 28.52
WOMEN -
1. Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 33.01
2. Florence Jepkosgei (KEN) 33.30
3. Aster Demissie (CAN) 34.13
