Posted: April 30, 2004

Athletics: Reuben Chebii confirmed for strong field Canada's fastest 10K - Sporting Life 10K

TORONTO, ON: 29 April 2004.

Reuben Chebii was confirmed today, to add to an already strong field, and set some sparks at Canada's Fastest 10K

Over 6,500 runners are expected to toe the line in good running conditions at the Sporting Life 10k on Sunday morning, in downtown Toronto.

Chebii, an exciting young Kenyan talent doing his first tour on the North American roads this Spring, is coming off a 3rd place finish at the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in Washington, DC, a 2nd at Crescent City 10K, and a win at the Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond Virginia in March, where he ran 28:07--the 6th fastest 10K time on the roads so far this year.

The 20-year old Chebii will be challenged by a strong pack that includes Joseph Ndiritu and Mustapha Bennacer. Ndiritu and Bennacer have already had some excellent duels this season. Bennacer, the francophone Algerian refugee and current Canada Running Series Champion, who has made Montreal home for the past 2 years, soundly trounced the veteran Kenyan marathoner Ndiritu by over 2 minutes at the Around the Bay 30K in March. Then on April 18th, Ndiritu came back to edge Bennacer on his home turf at the 21Kmtl in Montreal--the second event in Canada Running Series 2004--by a 10-second margin.

Other Kenyans entered include Joseph Kamau, David Njuguna,and Daniel Kipyap Kiprono.

The Canadian charge behind Bennacer will be led by Saskatoon's Jason Warick, just back from training camp in Kenya, Ottawa's Joseph Nsengiyumva and Stephane Gamache, Windsor's Peter Watson back home from Colorado, Toronto's Danny Kassap and Charlie Bedley, and some excellent younger athletes like Guelph's Andrew Catton.

The Master's race should see a fine battle between Steve Boyd of Kingston and Paul Osland from Toronto Olympic.

On the women's side, things should be equally interesting, as defending Canada Running Series champ Nicole Stevenson battles it out with Lioudmila Kortchguina for bragging rights in T.O. Normally, the edge would clearly go to the speedy Russian-Canadian. But Liouda has to be just a little tender after coming off a phenominal run at the inaugural Salt Lake City Marathon last Sunday where she ran 2:30 at 4,500 altitude [good for first and US$25,000], and Nicole likes this course, with back to back 32:56's the past 2 years.

This year will see not only a condsiderable growth in Toront's biggest 10K, but an increased prize purse [1st place up from $1500 to $2500], and live bands at 4K, 7K and the Finish.

Entries will still be accepted at Sporting Life Main store, 2665 Yonge Street until 5pm Saturday. No race-day entry. Don't miss this one!

Details www.canadarunningseries.com/sportinglife.