Toronto (Wednesday, October 8, 2008) – Toronto runner Andrew Smith, 28, will be Canada’s sole representative at this weekend’s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Smith, who lives and trains with the Brooks Canada Marathon Project (BCMP), was selected to the race by Athletics Canada after winning the Canadian Half Marathon Championships (Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal) in May. Coming off of his best ever training stint, Smith is taking aim at his personal best time of 1:05:18 for the 21.1-kilometre distance, set at the Naples Daily News Half Marathon in January. His wife, reigning Canadian Half Marathon and Marathon Champion Tara Quinn-Smith, was selected to compete in the women’s division but recently declined her spot due to injury.
Andrew Smith on competing at the World Half Marathon Championships:
I am going into the World Half Marathon Championships with a lot of confidence, as my training build-up indicates I am in the best shape of my life. It feels great to go into a race of this magnitude knowing that I am ready for a breakthrough. Having competed in two IAAF World Championship events before (2005 World Half Marathon and 2005 World Cross Country), I am anticipating that Sunday's race in Rio will go out very fast. I think the key for me to successfully execute my race plan is to not get caught up in the early fast pace. I want to feel strong through the halfway point of the race and catch a lot of guys in the second half of the race who may have started too quick. As far as my goals for the race, I would like to run under 64:30 and finish in the top third of the race.
For more information on the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, go to IAAF.org . Results can be found on Sunday at IAAF.org.
About the Brooks Canada Marathon Project: Now in its second year, the Brooks Canada Marathon Project provides distance runners with the opportunity to train with the goal of qualifying for the Olympic Games and World Championships. Thanks to a $1.5-million commitment from Brooks Canada founders Mike and Paul Dyon, the athletes train and live together in a house in Toronto’s west end provided by the Project. They also receive medical and travel support, and performance-based financial incentives. For more information, see BrooksRunning.ca.
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