Marathoners could set record at 2010 Ottawa Marathon

[TheEd]

May 19, 2010, Ottawa – He’s a familiar face on the Ottawa race scene, but Kenyan David Cheriuyot at age 40 and with four Ottawa wins under his belt could triumph over men as much as 20 years younger at the 2010 Ottawa Marathon.

This year Cheriuyot will have his hands full. His race winning time of 2:13:23 in 2009 may not be enough to hold off the stiff elite-level competition registered to keep him from a coveted fifth title.

“I have seen the list of competitors for the marathon this year and know it’s going to be tough to win,” says Cheriuyot, “but I’m confident of my chances to win a fifth time.”

“We should see a marathon record set on Canadian soil right here in Ottawa this year,” says Manny Rodrigues, Elite Athlete Coordinator, Run Ottawa.

Rodrigues refers to 19-year-old Ethiopian Bazu Worku, current Junior World Record holder with a time of 2:06:15. This is the first time a sub-2:07 marathoner has lined up for the Ottawa race.

Also competing is fellow Ethiopian Teferi Wodajo, 28, who posted a 2:07:45 marathon time last fall. Wodajo will square off against Japanese Arata Fujiwara, 28, who beat him at the Tokyo Marathon in February and Kenyan Philip Manyim, 32, who has a 2:07:41 personal best.

Canadian Danny Kassap could also lead the field. At just 27, this will be his first marathon since a heart attack took him out of competition in 2008.

Canada’s Lioudmila Kortchaguina faces strong talent in women’s field

She came in second in 2009 with a time of 2:32:10, but Canada’s Lioudmila Kortchaguina boasts the same record as Cheriuyot with four Ottawa Marathon wins to her credit.

“I’m looking forward to the race this year,” says the 38-year-old Kortchaguina. “Ottawa is a great race and I have a lot of good memories here.”

Russian runner Svetlana Ponomarenko could beat out Kortchaguina despite being 41 years of age. Also in contention is Mary Davies, a 26-year-old native of New Zealand who recently moved to Ottawa and enters the race fresh from a Montreal half-marathon win.

“The field for women is wide open,” says Manny Rodrigues. “The bar has been raised this year.”

Will records break?

Spectators at the 2010 Ottawa Marathon may see history made when Orillia, Ontario’s Rick Ball attempts to beat his own world record of 3:01:50 for a single-legged athlete.

“Based on my training I’m going ... into it very confident,” he told the Hamilton Spectator recently.