Anticipation is mounting leading up to the ING Ottawa Marathon as it looms large on the calendar of any Canadian marathon runner hoping to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

Athletics Canada (AC) and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) set the precarious date of Sunday, May 25th 2008 for Canadian men and women to achieve the necessary marathon Olympic qualification standards. ING Ottawa Marathon happens to take place on this drop dead date. Therefore Ottawa becomes the de facto, Canadian Olympic, Marathon Trials.

So far there are no Canadians to hit the required marathon standards, which are set a level higher than what the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) require. This may indicate why CBC television commentators, stated several times during the Osaka Worlds marathon, "I repeat there are no Canadian men or women competing in the IAAF World Track and Field Championships here in Osaka, Japan."

Perhaps the point was not lost on the powers at AC and the COC, who have adjusted things a little for the next IAAF World Track and Field Championships. With the exception of Dylan Wykes managing 2:15:13 at the Fortis, Rotterdam Marathon on April 17th, no Canadian male marathon runners have come close to qualifying. Dylan also had an impressive race at the Aramco Half Marathon in Houston, January 13th with a time of 1:03:54. Not that the potential for qualification doesn't exist, they just haven't materialized, yet!

Danny Kassap, from the Democratic Republic of Congo came as close as Wykes with a 2:15:20 in the 2008 Flora London Marathon however, his citizenship status flaps in the breeze like the Canadian Maple Leaf. Jon Brown, who has run two Olympic Marathons for the UK, finishing 4th in both Sydney and Athens, is cleared to run for Canada. Brown ran the fastest half splits in both the Olympic marathons out of all competitors. This was achieved in the second half of both races, no less. Unfortunately Brown has been plagued by injury and had been sick during a crucial training period this year. He is out of the Beijing hunt. This of course puts opportunity and pressure on a few studs from across the country, to meet up in the nation's Capital and gut out a performance worthy of the very tough standards, set by AC and the COC.

They are: (See additional information at bottom)

Men's standards:

A+ 2:11:31

A   2:12:38

B 2:14:00

Women's standards:

A+ 2:27:35

A   2:29:08

B   2:31:00

Marathon:

Qualifying Period - Sept. 1, 2006 to May 25, 2008.

Athletes must achieve 'A' Standard in 2006 or 2007 OR 'A' Standard after May 26th, 2007.

Standards achieved in 2006 or 2007 require proof of fitness between Mar. 1 & July 06, 2008. Relays World Top 16 based on the IAAF qualifying system.

Regardless, the anticipation is very high for some breakout performances. Watch for Charles Bedley to challenge as he has run a 2:16 in the 2007 California International Marathon in Sacramento. Right behind Bedley is Vancouver's, Jeremiah Ziak and Toronto's, Matthew McInnes both with 2:17 personal bests and Benard Onsare with his 2:18 from a few years ago. Ryan Day's training has come around recently since settling into Vancouver. He is looking to break his personal best of 2:19 from 2005, as is Jason Warick of Saskatoon with his 2:19 from 2006. From Warick's recent blog entry title: "I'm back in a good place, physically and mentally." This was followed by, "And now, with less than three weeks to go until the Ottawa Marathon, things are going very well." After some prodding, Ryan Day offered, "I may be the youngest guy in the Canadian pack but I'm one of the most experienced. If I'm 'ON', I will be using my experience and marathon knowledge to my full advantage.

Former University of Saskatchewan Husky Steve MacIntyre, has a pb of 2:20. Robert Krar ran 2:25:44 at the 2007, B.A.A. Boston Marathon. The rest of the field is made up of runners who have topped-out with a collection of 65 and 66 minute half marathons, they include:

Andrew Smith - debut - 1:05

James Gosselin - debut - 1:06

Taylor Murphy - debut - 1:05

Stephen Drew - debut - 1:06

Peter Watson - 1:06

James Nielsen - 1:05

Mark Bomba - 1:06

The women look like they have a fantastic opportunity to challenge for a spot. Although the field isn't as deep as the men's, they will toe the line with solid resumes, including Lioudmila Kortchaguina with her personal best of 2:29:42, Nicole Stevenson 2:32:56 and young master, Isabelle Ledroit 2:38. Lioudmila's CV includes an IAAF World Track and Field Championships 14th in Edmonton and Melbourne, Commonwealth Games 6th place finish. She has run at least a dozen marathons, in the 2:30 range, her 2:29:42 was 3 seconds off the Pittsburgh course record, which still stands from 1988, set by Margaret Groos.

Nicole Stevenson has run for Canada in the Commonwealth Games, IAAF World Cross Country Championships and IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. Nicole's 2006 2:32:56 personal best was acheived in the Houston Marathon.

The field is rounded out, by the following:

Tara Quinn-Smith debut - half - 1:13

Lauren King debut - half - 1:15

Suzanne Evans 2:45

Kristina Rody 2:48

Look for a contingent of international athletes in the 2:09/10 range. In the women's race Loudmila will be challenged by several internationals who could all go well under 2:30. Perhaps she will be able to work in a group to pull her to her full potential.

To say that the 2008, ING Ottawa Marathon is an important race to Canadian marathon running, is an understatement on par with saying that the Ottawa Senators underperformed in the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs, again.

Perhaps Sunday, May 25th will be the tonic the city of Ottawa is thirsting for, since there will be no sipping champagne from Lord Stanley's Cup.

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Contact Chris: chriskelsall@flocasts.org