FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laurie Davison
Marketing and Communications
(613) 277-2980
Only four months until the biggest Race Weekend in Canada
Increased cash prizes attract more international athletes,
record number of participants expected
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Organizers of the 31st Ottawa Race Weekend are
encouraging running hopefuls to beat the winter blahs by starting to train
for Canada’s premier running festival, vowing that this year will be the
biggest and best in the weekend’s history. The weekend event, held on May
28-29, is already showing signs of another record year, as registrations
pour in and elite athletes confirm their plans to attend.
"Our race has become an international destination for running enthusiasts.
Everywhere we’ve been to promote it, people are telling us that they'll be
coming to the Race. This could very well be another record year for us,"
says Susan Longbottom, Race Weekend President. "We are working very hard to
present the most competitive and entertaining running weekend in Canada."
In the past few months, Race Weekend organizers have been to marathons in
New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Dublin (Ireland), Disney (Florida)
and Dallas (Texas) to attract international runners to Ottawa.
Last year's Race Weekend saw over 23,000 runners and walkers at the start
line of nine races, with the ING Ottawa Marathon attracting 4,300 runners
and the MDS Nordion 10K welcoming over 7,000 participants. Also on the
schedule are the ING Marathon Walk, ING Ottawa Half Marathon, ING Family
2K, ING Marathon and Half Marathon Inline Skates, ING Wheelchair Half
Marathon and the MDS Nordion 5K.
The Race Weekend's Web site offers training tips for running hopefuls
planning to run a marathon or a 10K. Event Race Director John Halvorsen,
who was named Road Runner of the Year in 1988 by Runners' World Magazine
and who still holds the course record for the MDS Nordion 10K, is joined by
9-time ING New York City Marathon champion Grete Waitz as the experts
on-hand to give advice to runners of all skill levels.
LARGEST CANADIAN CASH PRIZE PURSE
The 2005 Ottawa Race Weekend is expected to attract an increased number of
elite athletes as it has upped its cash prize purse for the fifth year in a
row, raising what has long been the country's most lucrative cash prize
structure. The guaranteed prize purse for one event, the ING Ottawa
Marathon, has increased by almost 40 per cent. With additional money for
time bonuses, more than $200,000 in prize money could be handed out to the
top marathoners. Organizers expect to write cheques for another $50,000 in
prizes to winners of the MDS Nordion 10K.
"We have always been dedicated to the athletes, offering a very attractive
prize package and rewards for excellent athletic performances," said Vice
President and Elite Athlete Coordinator Manny Rodrigues. "Our prize
increase for the 2004 event set a new standard for all Canadian running
events and this new increased prize structure not only allows our race to
reward our future Canadian Olympic athletes for good finishing times. And
of course there’s also the chance to win a 2005 Hyundai Tiburon sports car
for a new Canadian soil marathon record."
Elite athletes from across Canada and around the world are already
confirming plans to attend, drawn by the lucrative prize purse and a course
designed for fast times.
ING OTTAWA MARATHON RECORD HOLDER TO DEFEND HIS TITLE
The ING Ottawa Marathon’s defending champion and course record holder Elly
Rono of Kenya has confirmed that he will defend his title in Ottawa this
May. Rono will once again face fellow Kenyan Joseph Nderitu, 3-time
champion and 4th place finisher last year, as well as Canadian national
champion Matt McInnes. Also among the confirmed athletes is Kenyan Danny
Kassap, who won the 2004 Toronto Waterfront Marathon and placed second in
the 2004 Toronto International Marathon. The ING Ottawa Marathon has been
designated the 2005 Canadian Marathon Championships, and past champions
such as Sandy Jacobson are expected to attend. The women’s race promises
to be heated as 2004 champion Lioudmila Kortchaguina of Russia has already
confirmed her attendance.
"Our growing international reputation as well as our increased prize purse
will only make Ottawa a more attractive marathon destination for some of
the world’s top athletes," says Rodrigues. "We're currently talking with
many interesting prospects and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another
course record broken this year." In 2004, Rono smashed the 17-year record
for the men’s ING Ottawa Marathon with his time of 2:11:47.
ABOUT THE OTTAWA RACE WEEKEND
The Ottawa Race Weekend, Canada's premier running festival, combines
competition, participation and fundraising to make a distinctive
contribution to the health of the community. The Race Weekend has over
23,000 participants in 9 races, including the ING Ottawa Marathon. It is
run by a volunteer Board of Directors. This year, the Race Weekend is
scheduled for May 27-29.
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