Ethiopia rules in Ottawa 10K 2011

Dire Tune - Ottawa 10k 2011

May 28, 2011, OTTAWA – Unpredictable weather conditions today stayed favourable for the nearly 10,000 runners participating in the Ottawa Race Weekend 10K race at 6:30 p.m.

Ethiopians again took top spots in both the men’s and women’s races. Deriba Merga improved his third place finish in 2010 to finish first with 28:30. Dire Tune crossed at 31:43, her second consecutive Ottawa 10K win and about 30 seconds faster than 2010. It is also her second time finishing ahead of her male counterpart – women elite athletes started 3 minutes and 55 seconds ahead of the men. For her efforts she’ll take home $6,000 US for being lead women, and an additional $4,000 for being first to cross the finish line.

“We were delighted to see two familiar faces returning to Ottawa to win the 10K event this year”, said Manny Rodrigues, Elite Athlete Coordinator. “Humid conditions may have prevented some old records to fall, but it remained dry throughout the race.”

Canadian male elite athletes performed strongly, with five finishing in the top 10. First to finish was Eric Gillis of Guelph, Ontario who placed fourth overall again this year with a time of 29:15.

Tarah McKay-Korir, of St. Clements, Ontario, came in eighth overall with 34:36 to take the top spot among Canadian women – a significant finish considering she is the mother of an eighth-month-old baby. There were eight women among the top 20 finishers.

The 2011 Ottawa Race Weekend 10K event sold out on March 15 this year, with 39,735 registered runners.

RESULTS – MEN

1. Deriba Merga (Ethiopia)                                28:30
2. Wesley Korir (Kenya)                                      29:00
3. Ryan Vail (USA)                                               29:09
4. Eric Gillis (Guelph, Ontario)                           29:15
5. Mohamed El Hachimi (Morocco)                   29:18
6. Nicholas Kurgat (Kenya)                                 29:20
7. Matt Loiselle (Toronto, Ontario)                    29:22
8. Réjean Chiasson (Toronto, Canada)               30:05
9. Dylan Wykes (Vancouver, BC)                                    30:17
10. Rob Watson (Guelph, Ontario)                       30:23
11. Jeffery Scull (Guelph, Ontario)                       30:25
12. Daniel Wallis (New Zealand)                          30:47

RESULTS – WOMEN

1. Dire Tune (Ethiopia)                                       31:43
2. Samira Raif (Morocco)                                   32:47
3. Ejegayehu Dibaba (Ethiopia)                          32:57
4. Hyvon Ngetich (Kenya)                                   33:41
5. Aziza Aliyu (Ethiopia)                                      33:50
6. Alemtsehay Misganaw (Ethiopia)                   33:57
7. Caroline Kirui (Kenya)                                     34:24
8. Tara McKay-Korir (St.Clements, Ontario)      34:36
9. Divina Jepkogei (Kenya)                                  34:38
10. Hellen Jemutai (Kenya)                                   35:17
11. Emily Tallen (Kingston, Ontario)                    35:35
12. Lucy Njeri (Kenya)                                           35:41