Posted: May 14, 2004

Athletics: Inaugural Canadian Half Marathon Championships set for Sunday

Energy Capital Half Marathon & 2004 Canadian Half Marathon Championships

May 16, 2004 Edmonton, Alberta

EDMONTON, May 14, 2004 – The first ever Canadian Half Marathon Championships are ready to take place Sunday, May 16, as part of the initial Energy Capital Half Marathon.

"Athletics Canada is very excited and pleased to be a part of this event,” said Martin Goulet, head coach of the 2004 and 2005 Canadian world half marathon team. "The half marathon program has generated a great deal of enthusiasm among Canadian elite distance runners. Performances are clearly improving, but this is only a start. Several international calibre Canadian athletes that have focused on middle distance running up to now are seriously thinking about moving up to the half marathon distance, certainly for next year. This should help us assemble a competitive team to represent Canada at the IAAF 2005 World Half Marathon Championships in Edmonton."

Canada’s best half marathoners are in Edmonton to compete in the Championships on Sunday. Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, together with other dignitaries from the Province, City of Edmonton and corporate sponsors will be on hand this Sunday to present medals to the winners. The top Canadian male and female finishers will be eligible for a total of $13,000 in prize money, and will represent Canada in New Delhi, India at the 13th International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Half Marathon Championships this October.

“The Canadian Half Marathon Championships are a build up to the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, which take place here on Oct. 1, 2005,” Local Organizing Committee Chair Daryl Wilson said. “The next 18 months are going to be hectic as we prepare to welcome the world, yet again. Sunday’s event is the first of three tests for the course, the same course that will be used for the World Half Marathon Championships. The other two tests will be the 2005 Canadian Half Marathon Championships in May, and the World Master’s Games in July.”

The top overall male and female finishers in the Energy Capital Half Marathon will be eligible for a total of $2,000 in prize money. More than 800 participants will be competing in three distinct distances:

The People’s Race – a 21.1 km. half marathon
Half the Half – a 10.5 km. challenge
Half Pint Kid’s Race – a FREE 2 km. ‘race’ for youngsters