Running: 10,000 Runners hit Yonge Street!

Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 06:24 PM

Canada's Fastest 10km - all downhill!

Toronto, ON – Sunday May 4th, 2008 8:00 a.m. A record 10,000 runners will be at the start line for the 11th anniversary of the Sporting Life 10k run in support of Camp Oochigeas on Sunday morning at 8am. This year's event is number 4 in the prestigious Canada Running Series, and hopes to raise over $300,000 for the camp for children with cancer.

Returning champion, Florence Jepkoskei and fellow Kenyan, Moses Macharia will toe the line at Yonge and Castlefield as pre-race favourites, ahead of a strong elite field. Jepkoskei blistered the downhill course last year in 31:42, helping it live up to its label as "Canada's fastest 10k". Macharia has already won Harry's Spring Run Off Toronto 8K on April 5th [23:37], and placed second at Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal on April 20th [63:57], in his Spring-season sojourn to Canada this year. A total of $12,700 in prize money will be up for grabs for the top finishers.

Elsewhere, lawyers and accountants will square off against each other, in a separate "Industry Challenge", with a strong focus on fundraising, as well as peer-group bragging rights on Bay Street. New this year, is a High School Challenge, where teams of students will vie for cash prizes for the "Fastest School" & "Fastest Runners". Councillor's Karen Stintz [Ward 16] and Adrian Heaps [Ward 35] are also confirmed to run for Camp Oochigeas.

While "running down Yonge Street without getting run down", participants will have the chance to "groove" to the sounds of "bands every mile" along the course, and finish on Bremner Boulevard, just adjacent to Roundhouse Park, for the post race party featuring the Latin sounds of "Ladyson". Other band locations are at: Yonge & St. Clair, Yonge & Bloor, Yonge & Dundas, Adelaide & Jarvis, Lakeshore & Sherbourne, and Lakeshore & York. Spectators are encouraged to come out to cheer-on local and international "heroes" and enjoy the tunes—bring your own coffee!

The event is open to runners and walkers of all abilities. It's still possible to register online at www.canadarunningseries.com/sportinglife/ until midnight on Tuesday 29th; then on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Sporting life Main store, 2665 Yonge Stree, between Eglinton and Lawrence. There is no sign-up or packet pick up on race morning. The Sporting life 10K for Camp Ooch is produced by Canada Running Series, is the 4th running event in the 2008 Race Series Calendar. Other signature events in the series include: Harry's Spring Run Off to fight Prostate Cancer (April) and the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, to be held September 28th, 2008.


Final ELITE START LIST for 2008 Sporting Life 10K


BIB# LASTNAME FIRSTNAME CITY PROVINCE CITIZENSHIP

1 Musyoka Theophilas Nairobi Kenyan
2 Macharia Mose Nairobi Kenyan
3 Ongeri Josephat Nairobi Kenyan
4 Rachem Baghdad Montreal QC
5 Fethi Oukid Montreal QC Canadian
6 Ndirangu David Nairobi Kenyan
7 Hetherington Stephane Toronto ON Canadian
8 Githuka Henry Nairobi Kenyan
9 Onsari Bernard Nairobi Kenyan
10 Karanja David Nairobi Kenyan
11 Chafe Paul Toronto ON Canadian
12 Debhi Amor Montreal QC
13 Bassi ABDELAMAJID Montreal QC Canadian
14 Fyfe Iain Montreal QC Canadian
17 Gosleigh Ken Exeter ON Canadian
18 Garnier Louis-Philippe Montreal QC Canadian
19 Earl James Toronto ON Canadian

30 Jepkosgei Florence Nairobi Kenyan
33 Archer Nicole-Marie Cheshire UK British
34 Aboungono Josiane Milton ON
35 Wiltse Paula Kingston ON Canadian
36 Ledroit Isabelle Montreal QC Canadian