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TORONTO. October 13th. Jean Claude Nduwingoma of Montreal provided a thrilling finish to a marvellous, record-breaking Canada Running Series '07, as he out-sprinted a lead pack of seven to cross the line first in 29:56 at today's Oasis ZooRun 10k, presented by Reebok. Kenyan Pauline Githuka, who has been staying in Milton for the season, won the women's race more comfortably in 35:11.
The 19 year old from Montreal treated a record, sell-out field of almost 2,500 runners to a rare road appearance, as he used his youth and track speed to sprint away from Kenyans David Karanja, Augustus Kavutu and Josephat Ongeri in the final 100m. They finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th in 29:57, 29:58 and 30:06; Toronto's Giitah Macharia was 5th in 30:08, Kenyan Pius Korir was 6th in 30:14, with Danny Kassap [Toronto] 7th in 30:19. After summers on the track, Nduwingoma has now won the Oasis ZooRun 10k two years in a row. The young Montrealer came to Canada in 2003 as part of the Burundian team at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke, where he placed 6th in the 3,000m in 7:58. After the Championships he elected to stay in Canada with an aunt who had emigrated to Montreal 10 years earlier. He was not sorry to leave war-torn Burundi. "The nights were the worst," he recalled."During the day it was a bit calmer. But the same people who were good during the day became murderers at night." His speed in the final dash to the line today, and his confident, two glances back over his shoulder to make sure he stayed ahead of the Kenyan pack, gave promise of a great future ahead on the roads.
Under cool, cloudy skies and breezy conditions, Pauline Githuka had a much easier time of taking the women's title on the rolling, and rambling, scenic course inside the Toronto Zoo grounds. She led from the start, finishing 30 seconds ahead of Canadian Olympian, Lisa Harvey of Calgary [35:41]. Burlington's Rebecca Stallwood was just behind in 35:56.
Another 1,000+ participants ran the accompanying Oasis ZooRun 5K and more than 200 children ran the 500m CubRun for those under 12 years.
The 10k also saw some exciting battles for final Canada Running Series 2007 placings. Running on tired legs following his 2:17 at Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon 2 weeks ago, Danny Kassap still managed to get close enough to Giitah Macharia to give him this year's Series crown, with 149 points to Macharia's 142. Lisa Harvey repeats as Women's Series champ with an impressive 165 points. The Men's Masters' title came down to a terrific, head-to-head battle between Ottawa's Andre Okenge and Montreal's Louis-Philippe Garnier--winner take all. And it came down to another sprint to the tape as Okenge prevailed in a lean, 33:28 to 33:29! While Kingston's Paula Wiltse won today's Women's Masters race in 36:09, third-place Liz Maguire of Osgoode, near Ottawa, did enough in coming home 3rd, two weeks after her Toronto Waterfront Marathon run, to give her 149 points on the season and make her the new Series [Women's Masters] Champion. Montreal's Isabelle Ledroit was 2nd on the day, and 2nd for the season with 136 points; Wiltse took 3rd place in the Series with 105 points.
The record turn out, the thrilling head-to-head competition, and the all-around festive atmosphere underscored what a marvellous year it has been for Canada's premier road race circuit. A total of almost 40,000 participants entered the 8 events in this year's Canada Running Series, and together, they helped raise over $1.7 million dollars for some 60+ local charities in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront brought us the fastest marathon ever run on Canadian soil [2:09:30] and a new women's course record. The Sporting Life 10k was won in a course record of 27:47, with three guys going under 28 minutes. There were also new course records at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half, and the all-new Nissan Toronto Ten Miler brought an important new distance into the circuit. The joy on the runners faces in the fabulous website photo galleries this year, and the truly remarkable amount raised for charity, underscored the Series' mantra that it is equally for "completers" as well as "competers". Online entry opens for most CRS '08 events on November 1st. Enter early to avoid disappointment from guaranteed sell outs!
www.canadarunningseries.com.
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