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Significant Bonuses on the Line at ScotiaBank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Posted September 10th, 2007 at 7:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Race director Alan Brookes had better have his checkbook handy when the top men and women break the tape at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon set for Sunday, Sept. 30. That’s because his event is offering bonuses of Cn$20,000 (USD 18,992) to the first man and first woman who break the Canadian all-comers records of 2:09:55 and 2:26:01, respectively.

Last year’s men’s champion, Daniel Rono, came within striking distance of Waldemar Cierpinski’s 31 year-old mark set at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Rono, a Kenyan, clocked a course record and career best 2:10:15 after a spirited battle with Moroccan Abderrahim Bouramdane who clocked 2:10:41. Brooke’s thinks this year’s field has an even better chance to take the bonus.

“We have a strong, evenly matched men’s field this year,” Brookes said in a prepared statement. “I sure hope we get a good day and several of the guys go under 2:10, to put that 2:09:55 bogey to rest. It’s been along time coming. We’ve had quite a rivalry with Ottawa in chasing it!”

Rono plans to come back again this year, and he’ll be chased by Kenyans John Kelai (2:09:09 PB), David Maiyo (2:10:19), Joseph Mutiso (2:10:34), Simon Wangai (2:10:35), and Simon Njoroge (2:11:15) amongst others.

The women’s all-comer record by Romanian Lidia Simon set at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton (held at slightly high altitude), will be tougher to beat, but is also achievable. Defending champion Malgorzata Sobanska of Poland will lead the charge. She clocked a modest 2:34:32 course record at last year’s race, but she owns a much faster personal best of 2:26:08 set in 2001. She’ll have more competition than last year, according to Brookes, with Alevtina Biktimirova of Russia (2:25:12 PB), Asha Gigi (2:26:05) and Merima Denboba (2:32:54) both of Ethiopia all having a shot at the title and the record.

“This is by far the best women’s field we’ve had at Toronto Waterfront,” Brookes added. “There’s definitely a chance we can give away the Cn$20,000 if we have a good day. And believe it or not, there’s only ever been one sub-2:30 performance by a woman on Canadian soil, outside of the World Championships in 2001. That was Lioudmila Kortchaguina’s 2:29:41 in winning Ottawa in May, 2006. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get three or four at Toronto Waterfront this year?”

In addition to the bonuses, the race winners will receive Cn$15,000 regardless of their finish time. Prize money will be paid ten-deep on the men’s side and seven-deep on the women’s side and there are also special awards for Canadian citizens.

Last year’s marathon was the key event within a three-race festival which saw a total of 8,027 finishers.