FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cher Cox
312/525-7555
Jay Glassman
Race Director
416/972-1062
10TH ANNIVERSARY TORONTO MARATHON ANNOUNCES $100,000 PRIZE PURSE
CBC Broadcast set for October 23, 2004
TORONTO - (September 1, 2004) - Toronto Marathon race director Jay Glassman
today announced that this year's October 17th Toronto Marathon will offer a
prize purse in excess of $100,000. Top male and female elite athletes will
compete for the largest marathon purse in Canada. The top male and female
marathon finishers will go home $25,000 richer, with second place finisher
taking in $10,000 each and $5,000 for third. The awards are given out
through 10th place and include Masters Division for first, second and
third.
New this year is the Canadian Maple Leaf Award, with $1000 going to the top
male and female Canadian finishers. The Toronto Marathon will once again
offer $1,000 for each full minute below the current course records of
2:15:17 for males and 2:37:52 for females.
Glassman also announced that this year's Toronto 10th Anniversary Marathon
will be broadcast on Canada's national network, CBC Television Saturday,
October 23, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. (EST). "We've really reached world-class
status with this national broadcast. Participants and their families will
have a great opportunity to watch their race, recap their performance and
relive favorite memories," stated Glassman. Salmini Films of New York is
shooting and producing this specialized coverage of this race. Salmini
Films is a full service television production and sports marketing firm
specializing in active sports for the past 25 years. (see sportfilm.com)
"We're thrilled to announce the $100,000 prize purse and CBC national
coverage of our Toronto Marathon," noted Glassman. "Top elite athletes
from around the world will be flying in to see our beautiful city and our
fall colors that will be on display at this time of year. We're expecting
more than 10,000 runners to participate in the 5K, Half Marathon and
Marathon runs in October as we celebrate our 10th Anniversary.
The Toronto Marathon Corporate Challenge is sponsored by Honda www.honda.ca.
Over 200 teams are expected in this year's running, representing the top
corporations in Canada. They'll compete in this eight-person relay from
Mel Lastman Square to the Finish Line at Queen's Park.
"As more people discover this race, more people are also discovering the
wonders of Toronto," boasts Glassman. "Not only are we the largest city in
Canada, the value of the dollar is terrific, and Toronto is ethnically and
culturally diverse. Our city boasts more than 5,000 restaurants, the best
theatre outside of New York and London as well as direct flights from more
than 40 U.S. cities and air and rail traffic service from anywhere in
Canada."
Devine Racing, L.L.C. Chairman Chris Devine added, "Toronto is a world
class city and a great place to break a marathon running record - whether
you're an elite athlete or a first time marathon runner. With the Boston
Marathon and Chicago Marathon now capped out at 40,000 runners and New York
Marathon a lottery for admittance, the Toronto Marathon is an ideal race
for those wanting the experience of running through a major downtown metro
area."
The course highlights the gems of Toronto, running right through the city.
Participants from over 33 countries are expected to come in for the race.
Runners from the United States find it a particularly attractive race due
the proximity and ease of travel, as well as the cache of running in
another country without the worry of language barriers, personal security
issues, customs, and long flights.
Presenting sponsor Metronews, the most popular free daily paper in the
Greater Toronto area, is joined by media partner CHUM Limited and other
sponsors including Honda, The Running Room, Cedar Springs, Ultima, Vector,
Asics, Pizza Pizza and hotel sponsors Holiday Inn on King Toronto and the
Hilton Toronto, along with a host of others.
The Princess Margaret Hospital, a global leader in the fight against cancer
is the official charity of the races. The hospital is a special place of
hope and caring where patients are offered the most advanced cancer
treatments, Princess Margaret Hospital is also internationally recognized
for its groundbreaking cancer research. Also benefiting are the Multiple
Sclerosis Society of Canada, the Achilles Track Club of Canada, the
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, Hemophelia Ontario and the Ontario
Track & Field Association.
To sign up on line, visit www.torontomarathon.com or call (416) 972-1062.
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