MDS Nordion 10K Offers $100,000 World Record Bonus
Posted Wednesday, 25 March, 2009
From Ryan Lamppa, Running USA
OTTAWA, Canada - (March 25, 2009) - Runners interested
in smashing the world record for the 10 kilometer distance could be $100,000
richer if they do it in Ottawa on May 23.
Run Ottawa has announced it will offer the largest
Canadian prize purse ever to any man or woman who breaks the current world
record at its MDS Nordion 10K.
Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia holds the men's 10K
world road record of 27 minutes, 2 seconds - from 2002 in Doha, Qatar.
The women's world record of 30:21 was set by Paula Radcliffe of Great
Britain in 2003 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"The Ottawa Race Weekend is a world class event,"
said Manny Rodrigues, Vice President, Run Ottawa. "So we've put together
a world class prize to attract the sport's top runners to Ottawa."
The 2008 MDS Nordion 10K attracted more than 8,400
runners, and the race champions were Julius Kiptoo of Kenya and Emebet
Bacha of Ethiopia in 28:37 and 32:43, respectively.
The MDS Nordion 10K event record was set by Ottawa
Race Weekend's Race Director John Halvorsen in 1988, who burned up the
6.2 mile course in 28:12.
"The MDS Nordion 10K is a highly recognized, competitive
race that continues to attract world class athletes," said Steve
West, President, MDS Nordion. "We're excited about the new prize
and hope it will motivate this year's runners to beat the world record."
The Ottawa Race Weekend will take place May 23-24,
2009.
The 23rd MDS Nordion 10K will be held Saturday, May
23 at 6:30pm. The race will start on Laurier Avenue near Elgin and finish
at the Ottawa Race Plaza, located near Ottawa City Hall.
ABOUT THE OTTAWA RACE WEEKEND
The Ottawa Race Weekend, Canada's premier running festival, combines competition,
participation and fundraising to make a distinctive contribution to the
health of the community. The 2008 Ottawa Race Weekend welcomed more than
32,873 participants in seven races, including the Ottawa Marathon and
the MDS Nordion 10K. Run Ottawa, the organization behind the Ottawa Race
Weekend, is run by a volunteer Board of Directors. For more information,
visit: RunOttawa.ca
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