Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Start List released
Posted Wednesday, 13 September, 2006
TORONTO. September 13th. Organizers today released the final Start List for next week's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. In addition to the great match-up between last year's champion and course record holder [2:11:57] , Simon Bor of Kenya and Commonwealth Games marathon gold medallist, Samson Ramadhani of Tanzania, there are another 10 men in the field currently running around the 2:10 level. "It's by far the strongest field we've had," said Race Director Alan Brookes. "I really hope we have to pay out that $20,000 bonus for a new Canadian all-comers record of 2:09:54 or better!" As a final tune-up, Bor ran a 61:28 in the Lille Half Marathon, September 3rd. Ramadhani claims "I've trained just as hard for Toronto as I did for the Games. I'm looking forward to running a new record and getting the bonus in a fellow Commonwealth country."
The athletes in the Scotiabank International Team Challenge, from Team Canada, Team America [USA], Team GB and Team Mexcio, promise to add depth to the race in the 2:15 to 2:20 range.
The Women's Race:
With the late scratch of Canadian Champion and hometown favourite, Lioudmila Kortchaguina [minor injury], it looks like a classic, two-person duel between Elizabeth Chemweno [Kenya] and Mulu Seboka [Ethiopia].
Chemweno debuted at La Rochelle last November with a 2:34:50, then followed it up with a 2:28:55 in Hamburg this Spring.
The 22 year old Seboka already has wins in Valencia [2004] and Mumbai [2005 & 2006]. She ran 2:30:54 in London '05, then her PR of 2:30:41 at Nagoya in March. She recently placed 3rd in the Ethiopian 20K Championships and says she is determined to run faster than 2:28 at Toronto Waterfront.
Behind them, veterans Malgorzata Sobanska, Viktoriya Klimina and Jenny Clague should battle it out for the rest of the top places.
Ed Whitlock, at 75 years, will also have the hometown fans on their feet as he has only to run better than 3:18:10 to give him every M75 world record from the mile to the marathon... [current record held by Warren Utes (USA)].
Entry and further information still available at:
www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com
Hamou Moudouji Morocco 2:14:12 [2006]
Khalid El Boumlili Morocco 2:10:49 [2004]
Francis Muendo Maundu Kenya 2:19:41 [2006]
John Nada Saya Tanzania 2:08:57 [2001]
Johnny Loria Costa Rica 2:17:52 [2005]
Kassahun Kabiso Ethiopia 2:15:39 [2005]
Gualberto Vargas Team Mexico 2:13:51 [2004]
Rito Regules Team Mexico 2:16:28 [2006]
Pat McCurry Team America [USA] debut
Art Siemers Team America [USA] 2:18:51 [2002]
John McFarlane Team GB 2:17:54 [2004]
Rich Gardiner Team GB 2:18:41 [2006]
Ryan Day Team Canada 2:19:55 [2004]
Peter Vail Team Canada 2:21:54 [2005]
Anthony Gitau Kenya 2:17:05 [2005]
Laban Moiben Kenya 2:18:34 [2006]
Emmanuel Kibet Kenya 2:24:37 [2006]
WOMEN
Elizabeth Chemweno Kenya 2:28:55 [2006]
Mulu Seboka Ethiopia 2:30:41 [2006]
Malgorzata Sobanska Poland 2:26:08 [2001]
Viktoria Klimina Russia 2:28:30 [2002]
Jenny Clague Team GB 2:36:10 [2006]
Sue Harrison Team GB 2:36:13 [2006]
Tania Jones Team Canada 2:39:10 [2001]
Kristina Rody Team Canada 2:48:05 [2004]
Jessica Rodrigues Team Mexico 2:50:10 [2006]
Maria Regina Yamin Team Mexico 2:49:47 [2006]
Paula Morrison Team USA 2:44:50 [2002]
Kelsey Jones Team USA debut
Naomi Wangui Kenya 2:39:08 [2004]