Running: Macharia and Kortchaguina surprise winners at Sporting Life 10K

Monday, May 08, 2006 - 05:40 PM

TORONTO. 7th May 2006

Macharia and Kortchaguina surprise winners at Sporting Life 10K

Canada Running Series' stars Giitah Macharia of St.Catharine's and Lioudmila Kortchaguina of Toronto were surprise winners of this morning's Sporting Life 10K, in 28:52 and 32:22, respectively, ahead of a record field of almost 8,000 runners.

On a picture-perfect morning of clear blue skies, crisp temperatures around 8 degrees Celcius, and only the slightest headwind, Macharia and Kortchaguina battled to emerge victorious in strong men's and women's races.

From the start, Macharia was well positioned in a lead pack of 12 runners, who went through the first kilometre in 2:51. After friendly 2nd and 3rd kilometres of 2:56 and 2:57, down Canada's longest and most famous street, Yonge, Kenyan Joshua Kemei leaned into the downhill from St. Clair to Rosedale Station with a 2:42 fourth 'k', and then there were only 3—Kemei, Macharia, and Kenyan Philip Lagat.

By 5km, passed in 14:18, Lagat started to slowly drop back, and this left Kemei and Macharia to battle back and forth over the second half of the course. By 8k, it was clear that Kemei's strategy was to tuck in behind and let the Canadian do the work. The pace actually slowed to a 2:58 eighth kilometre, as Macharia slowed to try to make Kemei share the lead.

Then just as bets were being taken as to when the Kenyan would unleash a winning, final kick, Macharia put the bit between his teeth and stormed past the Air Canada Centre and up the final straight for a hard-fought 3-second victory, and the $2500 first prize—much to the delight of the hometown crowd. The photo of Macharia's grin as he crossed the line tells the story!

Lioudmila Kortchaguina was also deservedly thrilled with her performance, as Canada's #1 ranked female marathoner showed what fine form she's in, defeating all the 5k and 10k women in the race. A lead pack of 4 ran the first half together, and all finished under 33 minutes—unusually strong depth for a Canadian road race.

Over the second half, Lioudmila and Canadian Olympian, Emilie Mondor, on her first outing after a long lay-off with a serious bone disease, gradually pulled away. By 8k there was a clear gap between them and Tara Quinn-Smith, who ran the 10000m for Canada at the recent Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and another gap to Kenyan Eunice Chepkirui in fourth. In the final kilometre, the marathoner proved her better endurance by pulling away from the 5000m athlete, for a 5 second victory.

Given the ideal conditions, and the surprise hometown winners, there were smiles all round at the Oasis Victory Party, headlined by The Meteors—not the least of which could be seen on the faces of the Camp Oochigeas folks, as they raised well over $100,000 on the day for their unique camp for kids with cancer.

Men:

1. Giitah Macharia St. Catharines, ON 28:52 Cdn$2500
2. Joshua Kemei Kenya 28:55 $1250
3. Philip Lagat Kenya 29:30 $1000
4. Danny Kassap Toronto, ON 29:46 $ 500
5. Joseph Nsengiyumva Ottawa, ON 29:47 $ 300

Women:

1. Lioudmila Kortchaguina Toronto, ON 32:22 Cdn$2500
2. Emilie Mondor Mascouche, QC 32:27 $1250
3. Tara Quinn-Smith Toronto, ON 32:40 $1000
4. Eunice Cheprirui Kenya 32:52 $ 500
5. Sarah Dillabaugh Ottawa, ON 33:49 $ 300


Full results and photos at www.canadarunningseries.com/sportinglife.