Two records broken at Ottawa

May 30, 2010 Cloudy skies and cool temperatures make for good conditions at Canada’s largest race event

May 30, 2009, OTTAWA – A new Ottawa Marathon course record of 2:09:33 was set today by Japanese runner Arata Fujiwara. The previous best finishing time in the marathon distance was 2:10:35 set by David Cheriuyot in 2007. Fujiwara will take home $23,000 US for his efforts.

Single-legged athlete Rick Ball of Orillia, Ontario broke his own world record of 3:01:50 set in 2009 with a finishing time today of 2:57:48.

“Once again the Ottawa Marathon has raised the bar for distance runners by lowering speed times on our race course,” said Jim Robinson, General Manager of Run Ottawa. “In addition to the two records set today, we broke last year’s registration record of 36,694 with 38,788 runners competing in the seven events.”

Under cloudy skies and a cool day, the first woman to cross the finish line in a time of 2:28:19 was of Ethiopia. She joins fellow Ethiopians Lelisa Desisa and who finished first yesterday in the 10K men’s and women’s categories with times of 28:08 and 32:11 respectively.

First Canadians to cross the finish line were Kitchener, Ontario native Stephen Drew and Krista DuChene of Brantford, Ontario, who posted times of 2:21:46 and 2:39:07 respectively. Each will pocket a $5,000 CDN prize.

RESULTS - MEN

1. Arata Fujiwara (Japan) 2:09:33 2. Laban Moiben (Kenya) 2:09:43 3. Bazu Worku (Ethiopia) 2:09:53 4. Hillary Kimaiyo (Kenya) 2:10:20 5. Wegayehu Girma Tefera (Ethiopia) 2:11:27 6. Teferi Wodajo (Ethiopia) 2:12:07 7. Gebo Burka Gameda (Ethiopia) 2:12:45 8. Gosha Girma Tefera (Kenya) 2:16:27 9. Josephat Ongeri (Kenya) 2:16:41 10. Francis Chesmuei Kipketer (Kenya) 2:20:44

RESULTS – WOMEN’S

1. Merima Mohammed (Ethiopia) 2:28:19 2. Radiya Adlo (Ethiopia) 2:35:04 3. Samira Raif (Morocco) 2:36:46 4. Alemitu Abera (Ethiopia) 2:37:40 5. Galina Aleksandrova (Russia) 2:37:55 6. Krista DuChene (Canada) 2:39:07 7. Mary Davies (New Zealand) 2:39:29 8. Jennifer Feenstra (Canada) 2:41:16 9. Myriam Grenon (Canada) 2:47:55 10. Jutta Merilainen (Canada) 2:50:54

NOTE: Times available at www.runottawa.ca.

ABOUT THE OTTAWA RACE WEEKEND The Ottawa Race Weekend, Canada's premier running event, combines competition, participation and fundraising to make a distinctive contribution to the health of the community. The 2010 Ottawa Race Weekend welcomed 38,788 participants in seven races, including the Ottawa Marathon. Run Ottawa, the organization behind the Ottawa Race Weekend, is run by a volunteer Board of Directors.

- 30 -

For more information:

Susan Marsh-Marconi Marketing and Communications Manager [email protected] (613) 234-2221 www.runottawa.ca