Running: Harry's Spring Run-Off Race Results

Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 03:00 AM

Another world-class finish at the Spring Run-Off....

TORONTO. April 7th, 2007. Kenyan Thomas Omwenga returned to Toronto today with a quality performance and a comfortable win at the 29th Annual Harry's Spring Run Off 8K, on a chilly morning (minus 5°C) in High Park, ahead of a record, sold-out crowd of 2,500 runners. Another sell-out record of 1,500 participated in the 5K that followed. The events marked "Opening Day" for Canada Running Series '07 in the East.

After a poor performance (2:21) at last September's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, where he was not fully fit after a summer-time injury, Omwenga returned to town determined to make amends, and did not disappoint. He took charge early and led from start to finish. By the time he completed the first loop on West Road and headed down Spring Road Hill at the 1 mile mark, he already had some separation from a trailing pack that included Ottawa's Joseph Nsengiyumva, Toronto's Danny Kassap, and Montreal's Bagdad Rachem.

Omwenga was a comfortable 4:48 at the mile, and he cruised from there at his marathon pace, to finish in 24:24. "Little Joe" Nsengiyumva was the only one who tried to stay close, and his 2nd place finish in 24:49 gave proof that he will be a force to contend with in this year's Series. Kassap finished 3rd, another 9 seconds back (24:58), Rachem 4th in 25:05, and Waterloo's Stephen Drew 5th in 25:13, after a good battle for the places.

On the women's side, Newmarket Huskies' Megan Brown also had things all her own way, with an easy win in 28:05, from Pauline Githuka (28:36), one of the Kenyans now living and working year-round in Milton, and Kingston's Paula Wiltse a distant 3rd in 29:45.

Besides the record field of 4,000 participants, the biggest winners on the day were perhaps Princess Margaret Hospital, who were the recipients of the $360,000 raised for prostate cancer research by the event. Harry Rosen CEO, Larry Rosen, raised almost $30,000 himself, and "Team Coppley", a supplier to Canada's premier men's wear retailer, raised an impressive $108,000 of the total. Team Pepsi were the fastest Team on the day; and the competition was so deep that a tie (pun intended) had to be declared in the "Best Dressed" category.