| Watch over 50 IAAF Events Live and On-Demand at WCSN.com |
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
OTTAWA – A strong elite field is set to race to a Canadian title in the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal taking place April 20 in Parc Jean-Drapeau. The Banque Scotia 21k also serves as Athletics Canada’s 2008 Canadian Half Marathon Championships.
Matthew McInnes from Toronto, Andrew Smith from Toronto, Jerry Ziak of Vancouver, Taylor Murphy from Guelph, ON and Steve Osaduik from Langley, BC are among the front runners to the men’s Canadian Half Marathon crown. McInnes is the reigning Men’s Canadian Marathon champion while Andrew Smith recently recorded a personal best in the half marathon in Naples, Florida. Jerry Ziak was 3rd in both the 2006 TransCanada 10km Canadian Road Race Championships and Canadian 10000 metres Championships.
A foursome of Torontonians leads the way on the women’s side. Tara Quinn-Smith, Lauren King, Beth Wightman and Nicole Stevenson are all strong candidates to cross the finish line first on Sunday. Tara Quinn-Smith won the 2008 Naples Half Marathon while setting a new personal best. King was 2nd at the 2007 Canadian 10000 metres Championships and 4th at the TransCanada 10km. Beth Wightman also set a new personal best in Florida this year and finished 3rd. Stevenson has competed internationally for Canada at major competitions such as the Commonwealth Games and the World Half Marathon Championships.
All athletes registered for the Banque Scotia 21k are eligible to contest for the Canadian title if they are Canadian citizens in good standing with Athletics Canada (member of a provincial branch). The Championships will also serve as the selection trials for the 2008 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 12, 2008. One male and one female plus a coach can be selected to the team. Participants finishing in the top three will be eligible for selection.
Canadian Half-Marathon Championships Prize Structure
1. $2,000
2. $1,200
3. $1,000
4. $800
5. $500
For more information on this event, please see: www.Athletics.ca
Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for the sport of track and field, cross-country running, road running and road racing.
-AC-
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
