Running Information Forums - Canada

New identity logo for Athletics Canada

Tue, 21 Oct 2014 18:18:13 +0000

Today Athletics Canada, the national governing body for track and field, cross country, road running and road racing, is extremely excited to launch its new logo as well as announce plans around the organization's new identity.

Athletics Canada's new bilingual logo comprises a full maple leaf surrounded by an oval track / running loop.

"In recent years the organization has grown and has set a new strategic direction of increasing participation and improving international performances in a positive sport atmosphere. Athletics Canada is an organization that offers opportunities for all people of all abilities; we are Athletics in Canada," said Rob Guy, Chief Executive Officer. "We felt it was time for a new brand and a new logo to go with this new identity."

The process to develop a new identity started almost a year ago and included submissions from the general athletics community.

Today's launch is the first step in the organization's identity makeover. In the coming weeks Athletics Canada will release iconic sport representations which, along with the main logo, will make up the overall Athletics Canada brand. January 2015 will see the final piece of the puzzle in the overhaul with the inauguration of a new website.

The full maple leaf and track / running loop logo identifies Athletics Canada in its simplest form. The complete identity is found in the visuals that form the overall brand. Together they articulate a visual system that best represents Athletics Canada, enhancing its value and continually building its profile.

The new brand includes a complete colour palette as well as usage and typography guidelines. The brand, along with the soon to be released website will serve as the cornerstone in Athletics Canada's communication and marketing strategy for years to come.

Perdita Felicien signs on for AC Awards Gala

Wed, 04 Jun 2014 11:29:58 +0000

Hall of Fame and Annual Award Attendees

Hall of Fame Athlete inductees Marcel Jobin, Lynn Kanuka and Jason Tunks; Coach Paul Poce; Builders Ken Porter and LeRoy Washburn; and In Memoriam family and friends of the late John Loaring, Harold Nicholson and Father John Redmond. Click here for more on the inductees.

AC Annual Award winners will include Olympic and World Championship Bronze Medallist Derek Drouin; 3-time World Championship Gold Medallist Brent Lakatos; 2-time World Championship Silver Medallist Brianne Theisen-Eaton; 2-time World Championship Bronze Medallist Virginia McLachlan; Olympian Inaki Gomez; World Championship team member Shawnacy Barber; Development athletes Lexi Aitken and Paul Galas; and Coach Gerry Dragomir. Click here for more on the recipients.

Canadian Master's Athlete Boris Zaitchouk will also be on-site to receive his 2013 Canadian Master's Athlete of the Year Award as the top male in field events. Boris won the gold medal in the men's 65 age category at the World Masters Athletics Outdoor Championships.

The Gala is held in conjunction with the 2014 Canadian Track & Field Championships. The Gala takes place Thursday June 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., in the Main Ballroom of the Delta BeausÃÂ©jour (750 Main Street, Moncton, New Brunswick). The reception begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by the induction and dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Competition at the 2014 Canadian Championships begins Friday June 27 at 10:30 a.m. and runs through to Sunday June 29.

AC welcome five new Board Members

Tue, 27 May 2014 18:47:15 +0000

Athletics Canada is pleased to welcome Tim Berrett, Sean Holman, Grant McDiarmaid, Ann Peel, and Dave Thomas to the Board of Directors. They were elected over the weekend as part of the association's Annual General Meeting. Other important outcomes of the Annual General Meeting were the ratification to increase membership fees to bring an end to partially self-funded teams as of the 2015 competitive season and approval of a new set of By-laws for the association consistent with the new Canada Not For profit Corporations Act.

"2014 marks an inflexion point for Athletics in Canada as momentum builds to Toronto 2015, World Championships in 2015, and of course the Olympics and Paralympics in Rio 2016. Outstanding performances by our athletes on the field of play are matched by significant strides forward in strengthening development programs and relationships with road running and other key partners," said Gord Orlikow, Board Chair. "These directors represent a new generation of leadership and bring a balanced and impressive set of skills to the federation. I am deeply indebted to the directors rotating off the board for all of their contributions and look forward to building on their legacy."

Tim Berrett has been elected to the position of Director-at-large for a one-year term. Until recently Tim was in the position of Branch President at Athletics Alberta and served in the role of Chair of the Branch President's Council. Tim was a long time national team member in the race walk event competing in three Olympic Games (1992, 2000, 2004).

Sean Holman has been elected as Director-at-large and will sit in the position of Treasurer for a two-year term. Sean, a Toronto-based supply chain and financial executive, is a former national team coach and manager. He is a long-term member of Athletics Canada's finance committee.

Grant McDiarmaid has been elected as Director-at-large on a one-year term. The British-Columbia based marketing executive and consultant holds extensive board and leadership experience within and outside of sport and most recently was especially influential in helping craft Freestyle Skiing's highly successful partnerships with the corporate community in Canada.

Ann Peel was elected as Director-at-large on a two-year term. The Toronto-based lawyer and social activist is a former Female Athlete Representative on Athletics Canada's Board of Directors. The long-time national team athlete was a founding leader of Athletes CAN and Right to Play.

Dave Thomas was elected as Director-at-large on a two-year term. He is a long time volunteer in the sport including roles such as former Executive Director and Technical Director of Athletics New Brunswick.

In the same meeting Inaki Gomez was confirmed as Male Athlete Representative and Director-at-large. Inaki has represented Canada at multiple Games and Championships and has his sights firmly set on a podium finish in Rio. He graduated with a B.A. in International Relations from the University of British Columbia and is currently enrolled at the University of Calgary to pursue a degree in the Faculty of Law.

Athletics Canada Board of Directors

Gordon Orlikow
Chairman

Tim Berrett
Director-at-Large

Sean Holman
Director-at-Large

Grant McDiarmaid
Director-at-Large

Ann Peel
Director-at-Large

Chantal Petitclerc
Director-at-Large

Dave Thomas
Director-at-Large

Inaki Gomez
Athlete Representative (Male)

Jennifer Joyce
Athlete Representative (Female)

Canadian relay team qualify

Mon, 26 May 2014 09:06:13 +0000

Canadian Men's 4x100m relay team qualify to 2015 IAAF World Championship in Athletics

Nassau, BAHAMAS - Four Canadian teams competed at the first annual International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Relays over the weekend including men's and women's 4x100 and 4x400-metre relay teams.

The men's 4x100-metres team of Gavin Smellie of Etobicoke, Ont., Dontae Richard-Kwok of Mississauga, Ont., Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I., and Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont., finished 6th in the final in 38.55 seconds. As part of the new IAAF World Relay event the top eight placed teams in the 4x100 and 4x400-metre events automatically qualify for the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China; Canada earned it's spot with a sixth place finish. Earlier in the day the men finished second in their heat in 38.70 to qualify for the final.

"The main objective was to come out here and finish top 8 and we achieved that which is great", comments lead runner Gavin Smellie. "A bit disappointed that we didn't get on the podium but it's always a learning curve and we will perform a lot better at the Commonwealth Games."

"This event was a great experience", says Dontae Richards-Kwok. "We came to secure our spot into Worlds next year and we were successful in doing so. We played it really safe so I think as a result we didn't do as well as we wanted to or could have." Dontae adds; "Commonwealth will be a lot better."

"The Bahamas hosted a terrific event", notes Jared Connaughton. "The enthusiasm in the crowd was as exciting as I've ever experienced. As a team, we've got a lot to improve on, but we are motivated to challenge one another in training."

"Honestly I am not happy or disappointed", comments anchor runner Justyn Warner. "We didn't execute as well as we normally do through the zones where we beat everyone." He adds; "I am proud of the guys regardless and a great stepping stone for the Commonwealth Games this summer."

The women's 4x100-metre relay team just missed qualification to the 2015 event by winning Final B for ninth place overall. The team of Khamica Bingham of Caledon, Ont., Kimberly Hyacinthe of Lachenaie, Que., Crystal Emmanuel of Scarborough, Ont., and Shai-Anne Davis of Toronto, Ont., bettered their time from 43.69 in the heats to 43.33 for the win of Final B.

Both the men's and women's 4x400-metre relay teams advanced from Day 1 heats to the B Finals. The women's team of Carline Muir of Edmonton, Alta., Jenna Martin of Bridgewater, N.S., Fawn Dorr of Marten River, Ont., and Noelle Montcalm of Belle River, Ont., ran the heats in 3:34.58. They sped up their time to 3:32.58 finishing third in Final B with Jenna Martin, Carline Muir, Fawn Dorr and Unionville, Ont.'s Sarah Wells as the anchor.

The men's 4x400-metres also took to the B final and improved on their time in the heats. Saturday's heats saw Daniel Harper and Daundre Barnaby both of Brampton, Ont., Philip Osei of Toronto, Ont., and Michael Robertson of Williamstown, Ont., clock 3:04.85. A slight change in Sunday's B final where Tremaine Harris of Markham, Ont., ran the third leg and Philip Osei anchored the race saw the men run 3:04.67 for sixth.

"Having an event like this early in the season makes it hard to get the best performance of the season, especially when our focus is on the Commonwealth Games", comments Head Coach Peter Eriksson. "I give the 4x100m men and women a passing mark. The 4x400m teams have some hard work in front of them. Bahamas was a great start to review the focus for our relay teams".

Armstrong takes Bronze

Sat, 17 Aug 2013 10:48:05 +0000

Moscow - Another day and another medal for Canada at the 2013 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championship in Moscow, Russia. Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, B.C., won bronze in the shot put with a seasonal best of 21.34-metres. Armstrong's medal is Canada's fourth in Moscow, tying Canada's best all-time performance at the IAAF World Championships.

Other Canadian day seven highlights included Nate Brannen of Cambridge, Ont., qualifying for the 1500-metres final and Angela Whyte of Edmonton, Alta., and Jessica Zelinka of London, Ont., advancing to the semi-finals of the 100-metre hurdles.

Going into the fifth round of throws in the shot put final Armstrong sat in fourth place with a seasonal best of 21.10-metres achieved in the second round. His fifth throw, another seasonal best, this time measuring 21.34-metres propelled him into the bronze medal position. "I just feel amazing, my coach and I worked really hard, I made some really good choices this year. He's been a huge part of my career and success and I can't thank him enough. Without him none of this would be possible, and without all of my supporters in Kamloops. I worked really hard for this, I'm really happy."

Dylan on his medal tying Canada's best ever showing at the World Championships, "It's another medal for Canada, it shows that when you have the right coaches in place, the right support and the funding behind it that it's going to payoff. You have to invest in sport, results don't come for free." This is Dylan's third World Championship medal after winning indoor bronze in 2010 and outdoor silver in 2011.

Nate Brannen placed seventh in a seasonal best of 3:36.59 in the second semi-final of the 1500-metres to advance to Sunday's final. "I felt really good until like the last 50-metres. With 400-metres to go I thought I could blast in but I got stuck out between lanes two and three. Going down the homestretch I knew I was top seven so I just cruised it in. Hopefully I saved enough for the final."

Angela Whyte and Jessica Zelinka both qualified for tomorrow's semi-finals in the 100-metre hurdles. Whyte won heat one in a time of 12.93 seconds to auto-qualify, "Super relieved that it's over. I couldn't sleep last night. I always take this round by round, got through to the next one so I'm happy. It's going to be really tough in the semis; I will do the best I can. I don't care about the time in the semis, just want to place well and get through to the final."

Zelinka also auto-qualified by placing fourth in heat three in 13.15 seconds, "It's been awhile since I raced, I felt like I was in slow motion, just jogging through. It was good to get that in and get it out of the way. Going to put it all out there tomorrow. I've been training on my own a lot this year; it's like I forgot what it was like to race. I'm glad it's out of the way."

The women's 4x400-metres finished fifth in heat 3 in a seasonal best of 3:31.09, they did not qualify for the final. Leadoff Alicia Brown of Ottawa, Ont. "Much happier with my performance today then my individual 400-metres." Brown handed the baton to Sarah Wells of Unionville, Ont. "The four of us have never run together, we wanted to go out there, do our best and show that Canada belongs. We ran a seasonal best, we're proud of that, but there's definitely room to improve." Wells handed off to Noelle Montcalm of Windsor, Ont. "I felt pretty good, didn't want to go out too hard. Running the 400-metre hurdles is definitely a different rhythm than this. I wanted to maintain my position or gain on the girls ahead of me." Montcalm handed the baton to anchor Jenna Martin of Bridgewater, N.S. "I got a little excited and tried to catch the girls in front of me right away. I tried my best, that's all I can ask for and it was fun running with these ladies."

Tremaine Harris of Markham, Ont., placed fifth in heat two of the first round of the men's 200-metres in a time of 20.68 seconds. "The plan was to run as hard as I can to make the semi-final. I competed to the best of my ability, hopefully I can get into the semi-final on time and prove that I can run a lot faster then that." Harris did not qualify on time. "It sucks to run the way I did after training so hard the whole year."

Krista Woodward of Vancouver, B.C., finished eight in Group A of the women's javelin qualifying with a best toss of 58.86-metres. She did not qualify for the final. "I felt pretty good, hit my first throw well. I knew though that it wouldn't be enough to get me into the final, I had to really go for it on the next two throws and kind of overthrew them. I needed 60-metres and I didn't get it."

Brent Lakatos wins Paralympic Silver

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 08:30:35 +0000

London, UK -Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que., won Canada's third track and field and Canada's 11th medal overall at the 2012 Paralympic Games. Day three of the track and field competition also saw two new Canadian records and three more top eight performances from Keira-Lyn Frie of Saskatoon, Sask., Alister McQueen of Calgary, Alta.., and Curtis Thom of Mississauga, Ont.

Lakatos took silver in the men's T53 classification wheelchair 400-metres crossing the finish line in 50.71 seconds. "The last 100-metres hurt a lot, my arms were burning. A silver medal means a lot." He adds, "It's great to be able to share this with my wife (Stefanie Reid)." Lakatos qualified for the final by winning his semi-final earlier in the day in a new Canadian record of 49.46 seconds.

In the men's F44 amputee javelin throw final Alister McQueen placed seventh with a new Canadian record of 49.32-metres. Alister surpassed his personal best and former Canadian record by more than 4 metres. "It was a lot fun; I was a little bit more relaxed (after competing in the T44 200-metres yesterday). Top eight was the goal and I achieved that. Hopefully there will be a lot more of these in my future." McQueen now shifts his focus onto the T44 classification 100-metres.

In the final of the women's T54 wheelchair 5000-metres Keira-Lyn Frie finished fourth in 12:28.26. "I was really comfortable out there, I was thrilled to be in the final and today I demonstrated that I deserve to be there."

In the same race Diane Roy of Sherbrook, Que., finished ninth in 12:29.27. "I'm a little bit disappointed; my top speed just wasn't there. I was in a good position; this stadium for some reason is not working for me. We'll see tomorrow (where she will race in the heats of the T54 400-metres)."

In the men's T54 wheelchair 100-metres final Curtis Thom placed sixth in 14.74 seconds. Thom however is not finished at these Paralympic Games; on Wednesday September 5 he'll race in the men's T54 400-metres alongside teammates Alexandre Dupont of Bradwell, Sask., and Colin Mathieson of Winnipeg, Man.

Earlier in the day Ãâ°ric Gauthier of St-Frautin Lac-CarrÃÂ©, Que., finished fourth in his heat of the men's T53 wheelchair 400-metres and did not advance to the final in which Lakatos won silver. "It was ok, I had some issues with my chair in my lane and then it was too late. I'll be ready for the next race."

World Championships come to an end

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 05:52:02 +0000

DAEGU - The 13th edition of the IAAF World Championships came to a close today in Daegu, South Korea. Of the 202 countries that took part in the largest international athletics competition, next to the Olympic Games, Canada finished in 21st.

Sherbrooke, Que.Ã¢â¬â¢s Diane Roy raced to a gold medal yesterday in the T54 800-metres. Diane crossed the line in 1:50.91 for her first gold medal at an IAAF World Championship.

Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, B.C., won CanadaÃ¢â¬â¢s first ever medal across all throwing events at a World Championship. Armstrong threw the shot put 21.64 metres to secure the silver medal.

In the womenÃ¢â¬â¢s heptathlon Jessica Zelinka of London, Ont., finished with an all time best placing for a Canadian in this event at worlds; Zelinka registered a ninth place finish with 6268 points. Ruky Abdulai of Coquitlam B.C., competed in her first heptathlon at a world championship and finished 13th with a personal best of 6212 points.

The womenÃ¢â¬â¢s 100-metres hurdles saw two first time Canadian competitors at a world championship make the finals. Nikkita Holder of Pickering, Ont., finished in 6th overall registering two personal bests in the heats (12.90) and semi finals (12.84). MarkhamÃ¢â¬â¢s, Ont., Phylicia George finished in 7th overall; George also registered a personal best of 12.73 in the semi finals.

Thirteen athletes on the Canadian team made debut appearances at the IAAF World Championships. Among them were 2 finalists: Phylicia George and Nikkita Holder over the 100-metre hurdles, and 2 semi finalists: Geoff Martinson in the 1500-metres and Justyn Warner in the 100-metres. Eric Gauthier also competed in the T53 400-metres straight final.

4x100m Results from today

The 4x100-metre relay team of Sam Effah of Calgary, Alta., Gavin Smellie of Etobicoke, Ont., Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I., and Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont., finished sixth in the semi finals clocking 39.38 seconds and did not advance to the final.

Canadian athletes at World Combined Events Challenge

Thu, 26 May 2011 07:23:03 +0000

OTTAWA - Jamie Adjetey- Nelson of Windsor, ON and Jessica Zelinka of Calgary, AB will take to the international stage this weekend at the prestigious Hypo-Meeting, in Götzis, Austria.

Annually the Hypo-Meeting features a who’s who in the 7-discipline heptathlon and 10-discipline decathlon with this year being no exception. Lining up alongside 2008 Olympic Games 5th place finisher Jessica Zelinka are 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Tatyana Chernova of Russia, 2008 Olympic gold medallist Natallia Dobrynska of the Ukraine and 2009 World Champion Jessica Ennis of Great Britain.

In the decathlon Jamie Adjetey-Nelson will take on a number of the world’s best decathletes including 2009 World Champion Trey Hardee of the United States. Adjetey-Nelson enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2010 which was crowned with gold at the Commonwealth Games. He’ll look to parlay 2010 into an even better 2011 season and it all starts at this prestigious competition and his first Hypo-Meeting

Start lists and results are available at http://www.iaaf.org/wce11/results/eventCode=4745/index.html.

NACAC Combined Events Championship May 27-28
The 2011 NACAC (North American, Central American and Caribbean) Combined Events Championship is set for UWI/ Usain Bolt Track in Mona, Jamaica this Friday and Saturday. Three Canadian athletes have made the trip and will represent the maple lead in Jamaica.

Name	Event	Hometown	Coach
Patrick Arbour	Decathlon	Ottawa, ON	Bill Heikkila
Jennifer Cotton	Heptathlon	Woodstock, ON	Vickie Crowley
Damian Warner	Decathlon	London, ON	Gar Leyshon

Ottawa Marathon finisher medal a winner

Wed, 25 May 2011 14:24:57 +0000

Ottawa Ã¢â¬â In a race of its own, the finisher medal for the 2010 Ottawa Marathon placed 13th in a competition recognizing the 25 best marathon medals in North America.

Marathon & Beyond, a recognized international magazine for marathoners and ultramarathoners, assembled a panel of 22 judges for this competition. The results were announced in its May/June 2011 issue.

Ã¢â¬ÅThis is the first time the Ottawa Marathon medal has placed in the annual ranking,Ã¢â¬Â said Jim Robinson, Race Director. Ã¢â¬ÅWe already knew how much finisher medals mean to our runners. Now we know that our medal design is significant in the eyes of the North American running community.Ã¢â¬Â

Finisher medals are highly sought after by many marathoners who in some cases run a marathon based on the uniqueness of the finishing medal.

Ã¢â¬ÅEach year, our objective is to ensure the design is as unique as the runnerÃ¢â¬â¢s experience,Ã¢â¬Â said Robinson.

The 2011 Ottawa Race Weekend will take place May 28 and 29.

Canadian Marathon Championships for Ottawa

Wed, 18 May 2011 14:46:28 +0000

OTTAWA Ã¢â¬â Held as part of Ottawa Race Weekend, the 2011 Canadian Marathon Championships will take place May 29 in the nationÃ¢â¬â¢s capital. The Championships will serve as the last opportunity for Canadian athletes looking to qualify for the 2011 World Championships and 2011 Pan American Games in the marathon discipline. Athletes can also register performances towards qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Lucas McAneney of Toronto, ON is the top registered competitor on the menÃ¢â¬â¢s side, last month at the Canadian Half Marathon Championships in Montreal he finished 4th. Terry Gehl of St-Charles, QC, Christian Mercier of Quebec, QC and Derek Nakluski of Kitchener, ON, will all be gunning to land top five finishes in Ottawa.

On the womenÃ¢â¬â¢s side Myriam Grenon of Longueuil, QC will be looking to improve on her second place finish from the 2010 Canadian Marathon Championships. SheÃ¢â¬â¢ll face stiff competition from Emily Kroshus of Calgary, AB and Lanni Marchant of London, ON; all three are expected to contend for the podium on race day.

Ottawa Race Weekend will also feature a 10K race on Saturday May 28 which will include some of CanadaÃ¢â¬â¢s top elite distance talent. The menÃ¢â¬â¢s race is especially stacked with Canadians Simon Bairu, Eric Gillis and Dylan Wykes set to take on some of the worldÃ¢â¬â¢s fastest men over 10-kilometres.

Megan Brown is the top Canadian entry in the womenÃ¢â¬â¢s 10K race, Brown won the title at last monthÃ¢â¬â¢s Canadian Half Marathon Championships.

Canadian men at 2011 Ottawa 10k

Fri, 06 May 2011 13:00:44 +0000

Ottawa Race Weekend will host CanadaÃ¢â¬â¢s top long distance runners this year.

With fast times in both marathon and 10k distances, there are a number of Canadian men to keep an eye on during the Saturday evening 10k race on May 28.

Among them is Guelph-based Eric Gillis, the first Canadian to win the Vancouver Sun Run 10k since 1998 with a time of 29:06. Running close behind him with a finishing just nine seconds slower (29:15) is Dylan Wykes, of Vancouver.

Another athlete to watch is Toronto-based Matthew Loiselle, who finished second behind fellow Canadian Reid Coolsaet at the Montreal half-marathon on April 17 with a time of 1:05:28. Fellow Canadian RÃÂ©jean Chiasson also ran Montreal with a time of 1:06:57.

Steeplechase champion Robert Watson may prove to be a worthy competitor in the 10k distance. He ran 2:16:17 at the Houston marathon on January 19, finishing fourth overall. Not a bad result for his first attempt at the marathon distance.

Canadian women in Ottawa 10k race

Tue, 03 May 2011 18:26:07 +0000

Some years, the line-up of confirmed elite Canadian women athletes for the 10k race doesnÃ¢â¬â¢t leave a lot of doubt about who will place in the top five. The 2011 womenÃ¢â¬â¢s 10k race might be a nail biter.

Toronto-based Megan Brown is an up-and-coming champion. Fresh on the heels of setting a Canadian indoor 5,000 metre record in February (15:42) and winning the April 17 Montreal half-marathon in 1:14:08, the 26-year-old will be one to watch. Her best 10k time is 33:40 (Ottawa), but sheÃ¢â¬â¢s improving fast and could place in the top five overall, if not the top three.

Brown will get competition from Emily Tallen, a Kingston-based elite performer who comes to Ottawa with a respectable 34:31 finish time from this yearÃ¢â¬â¢s Vancouver Sun 10k race. Tallen placed 7th in Ottawa last year.

Or audiences may be surprised by Carp resident Joanna Brown, only 18 but likely to improve her 10k personal best time of 35:39, run in Ottawa.

Not to be dismissed are master class athletes Paula Wiltze (ran 33:35 in Toronto in 2004) and Tania Jones, a former Ottawa resident who has stood on the podium at the Ottawa Race Weekend in both the 10k and marathon distances. A winner of the 10k race in 1995 and 1996, JonesÃ¢â¬â¢ best time of 33:21 was posted in Vancouver in 2000.

Amare and Ngetich for Ottawa 10K

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:51:48 +0000

Shewarge Amare and Hyvon Ngetich confirmed for Ottawa 10K

Competition is shaping up for the 2011 10k womenÃ¢â¬â¢s race. Ethiopian Shewarge Amare is confirmed for Ottawa, coming to the city with a personal best time of 32:27 scored in New York last year. She also has a respectable 1:09 posted in the New York half-marathon in March of this year. Last yearÃ¢â¬â¢s Ottawa 10K female winner, Dire Tune, finished in 32:11.

Amare will have competition. Returning to Ottawa this year is Kenyan runner Hyvon Ngetich, an accomplished 25-year-old who runs in the 32 minute range. SheÃ¢â¬â¢s had luck in Ottawa, placing third in the 10k distance twice (2008, 2010) and in fourth place once (2009).

Will this be the year Ngetich moves up to take first place? Or will some other elite athlete edge her way in? ThatÃ¢â¬â¢s what must be on AmareÃ¢â¬â¢s mind as the date for the 10k race approaches.

Cheriuyot returns to Ottawa Marathon

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:01:16 +0000

HeÃ¢â¬â¢s coming back. Four-time Ottawa marathon champion (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009) David Cheriuyot of Kenya will return to the city in May to try his luck in what promises to be a competitive field.

At 41, the newly minted master athlete has a personal best time of 2:10:35 Ã¢â¬â posted in Ottawa in 2007. It is a record he held until last year when it was broken by Arata Fujiwara of Japan (2:09:33).

If last yearÃ¢â¬â¢s race is any indication, Cheriuyot may be in fast company. Three of the top 10 men runners finished in under 2:10 in 2010.

Cheriuyot will also have to go head to head with fellow Kenyan John Kagwe who, at 42, is also new in the master athlete ranks. But with two New York City marathon wins (2:08:12 in 1997 and 2:08:45 in 1998) in his past, not to mention a host of other race credits, heÃ¢â¬â¢ll be the one Cheriuyot will be keeping an eye on as he attempts his fifth win on the new Ottawa race course.

Canada's Most Runner Friendly Race?

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:16:44 +0000

Mississauga, Ontario - Organisers of the 8th annual Mississauga Marathon weekend (May 14-15) have a strong case for being ranked among the most runner friendly races in the country.

Not only do they offer a full Boston Marathon qualifier - on a slightly downhill course - thereÃ¢â¬â¢s a race for everyone: 5km, 10km, Half Marathon as well as a kidsÃ¢â¬â¢ 2km fun run.

High priced entry fees have become a nuisance to runners. Mississauga not only keeps the costs to a minimum but also provides free parking and free shuttle service to the start line. As an added bonus, runners are eligible for discounts at local retail stores all weekend when they show their race bibs. In these tough economic times the Mississauga Marathon weekend delivers great value.

All runners - not just elites - are looked after and can take comfort in knowing that Ã¢â¬Åpace bunniesÃ¢â¬Â will help everyone achieve their goals with consistent pacing. Organisers have also chosen a very scenic route. Runners will traverse spectacular neighbourhoods and run along the shore of Lake Ontario passing the Port Credit Lighthouse on the way to the finish.

And, while many other marathons want to clear the finish area as quickly as possible, at the Mississauga Marathon runners and their family and friends are encouraged to stay and enjoy the festivities - live music, face painters, mascots, balloon animals etc. - long after they have crossed the finish line.

Celebrities will be on hand all weekend too. CanadaÃ¢â¬â¢s leading tenor, Michael Burgess, has sung for dignitaries the world over, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and he will sing the national anthem at the marathon start. MississaugaÃ¢â¬â¢s iconic 90 year old Mayor Hazel McCallion will fire the starterÃ¢â¬â¢s pistol. Liberal MPP Peter Fonseca, himself a 1996 Canadian Olympic
marathoner, will be the guest speaker at Saturday nightÃ¢â¬â¢s pasta dinner.