The ING Ottawa Marathon organizing committee made a stand-up effort to bring in a crop of athletes very capable of taking down course records, especially in the 10k and the Marathon. With good prize money and Athletics Canada naming the date of Sunday May 25th as the final opportunity for Canadian men and women marathoners to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, the race was stacked with an elite field of Canadians and internationals.

Riding in the second media van, armed with a Nikon D70 and a love for all things competitive, especially marathon running, I enjoyed observing the marathon unfold on wide, empty streets with sweeping boulevards. As a veritable kid in a candy store, I got to observe a beautiful race unravel.

Beneath the unrelenting sun and early morning warmth, the ING Ottawa Marathon weekend's marquee race unfolded in tactical, but dramatic fashion. A lead pack of 12 international athletes ran together to approximately the 25k mark. A few dropped off, but at 30k there were still 9 in that lead group, working the water stations together and taking turns sharing the lead. Kenyans, David Cheruiyot and Vincent Kiplagat finished 1st and 3rd while Ethiopian, Mollo Solomon, finished 2nd; yet it was not apparent who was the fittest on the day until there remained only 3 or 4k.

The runners were through 10k in 30:48 and on pace for a 2:09/10 finishing time. They kept this pace going, right to 30k, before surges on two back-to-back down hills by Mollo Solomon, splintered the group.

Although Solomon's lead grew to 50m, he was soon swallowed back up by Kiplagat and Cheruiyot and the three remained tight for a few more kilometers. Alfredo Arevalo Reyes of Guatemala City, Guatemala took the lead in the middle of the race and kept a vigorous push for several kilometers, before trading places with David Cheruiyot. This push later came to haunt him as he ended up finishing in 2:13:49. Unwilling to take the lead until after 30k, Kiplagat appeared to enjoy running in the back of the lead pack throughout; sometimes he was difficult to spot. Once Kiplagat did take the lead, well after 33k, it became apparent that Cheruiyot's experience trumped both Solomon's and Kiplagat's, as he patiently waited to unleash the winning kick.

The warmth of the day got to a few runners, including Marten Bostrom of Finland who staggered in and proceeded to lie down. Bostrom got a free ride out of the chute courtesy of the very quick and alert work of the medic volunteers. The volunteer's efficiency perhaps was a metaphorical lesson to some athletes on teamwork.

Although from the lead vehicle I could not tell, it appears the Canadian men did not work together as well as the internationals did. The 10k split from Canadian Giitah Macharia was 31:45, 15 seconds up on Matthew McInnis, Stephen Drew, Andrew Smith, Charles Bedley and 19 seconds up on Jeremiah Ziak; several more staggered behind. A few other Canadians dropped out including Vancouver runners, Ryan Day and Mark Bombaand Nick Best of Victoria.

Asmae Leghazoui of Morocco won the women's race in her debut with a new course record of 2:28:43. Asmae was followed by the Russian, Elza Kireeva and Kebebush Haile of Ethiopia.

Brooks Project Team member and first Canadian, Tara Quinn-Smith, finished 4th in 2:33:57, which was also her debut in the marathon distance. With her time and finish placement, Tara qualified for the Canadian Marathon World Cup team, earned funding from Athletics Canada and $5, 000 in prize money. Not a bad day!

Unfortunately Canada's Lioudmila Kortchaguina, four-time winner, was nursing a hip injury and was not able to compete.

By checking the 10, 20 and 30k splits, the women it appears also did little to work together as they hit 10k in single file fashion and continued the solo efforts right through to the end of the race. Winner Asmae trains alone in Addis Ababa, perhaps she felt this tactic would work for her, it did; however she later intimated that she expected a faster finishing time.

David Cheruiyot's victory was his third Ottawa win in four years, earning $15, 000, while countryman Vincent Kiplagat finished third for a second time, in his second attempt in the nation's capital.

The ING Ottawa Marathon will be looking for a new title sponsor for 2009.

I marveled at this race weekend's atmosphere, which was high on friendliness and operated higher yet on efficiency. I hopped into the 10k race for fun, observed and photographed the marathon and MDS Nordion 5k, also, considering my situation from the lead vehicle and from in the chute, I was provided with a close up view of Canada's jewel marathon.

At one point in the race the mid-packers who were running in the opposite direction of the lead pack were so loud with their cheering, I craned my neck to see where the bleachers were, this must have been motivating for the front runners.

The entire weekend of events was well put together and should easily attract a first rate sponsor. Everyone loves a winner baby!

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Contact Chris: chriskelsall@flocasts.org