Ottawa 10K hosting another world class field

One of Canada’s top elite races, the Ottawa 10K, is showing off another world class field for 2015, headlined by a world champion in the women’s race.

Kenya’s Gladys Cherono is the star of what race organizers are describing as the event’s deepest field ever. Cherono is a world half-marathon champion and finished second in the most recent world championship 10,000m.

Athlete’s like Cherono are why the Ottawa 10K is considered one of the top road 10Ks in the world, regularly producing some of the fastest results each year, the reason for it’s IAAF gold label. It was until earlier this year the only race in Canada with the distinction.

“I want to try and break the course record,” says Cherono of the record set one year ago by Mary Keitany. “I haven’t asked her about Canada, but I know that last year Mary ran 31:21, a minute ahead of the second-place finisher, and seven seconds better than the previous event record.”

The elite event comes with a decent payout of $8,000 US, but eith the male or female champion will take home an extra $2,000 for winning the gender challenge, the only event of it’s kind in Canada. The women will begin the race about four minuutes ahead fo the men, a similar differential between men at women in the elite ranks. The first athlete to cross the finish, male or female, wins the gender challenge. A course record in Ottawa is also worth an additional $2,000.

The 10K in 2015 is also serving as the Canadian championship and the women’s race has attracted Canada’s top racers. Nearly all of Canada’s top women will be lining up for the May 23 race. The top seed is Lanni Marchant with a PB over the distance of 31:49, though she’ll face stiff competition from other Canadians.

“The combination of being a gold label event and hosting the national championship has led to the deepest 10K field that I have seen on Canadian soil,” notes elite coordinator Manny Rodrigues who puts together the fields.

In the men’s race there are six athletes with PBs under 28 minutes. Eric Gillis is likely the top Canadian on the startlist.

The event is part of the Ottawa Race Weekend. The 10K will be held in the evening of May 23, the night before the marathon.