Posted: June 28, 2004

Athletics: Exciting half-marathon finish at today's Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K Run/Walk

Event also raises funds for local breast cancer charity

VANCOUVER, June 27, 2004 - More than 3,600 competitors, including a roster of elite half-marathon racers and running enthusiasts, helped make the Sixth Annual Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon (SVHM) & 5K Run/Walk one of the most competitive and fastest road races of the season. Participants were also running to raise money for the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation in support of the Breast Reconstruction Program at UBC Hospital.

In the men's half-marathon, Victoria's Jon Brown, a British Olympian preparing for his marathon run in Athens this August, made his decisive break from the field at the 7 kilometre mark and by 9 k, had established a clear lead to win the race in 1:03:53. It was a tight race between St. Catherines' Gitaa Macharia and fellow Congolese runner, Toronto's Danny Kassap. In the final 100 metres, Macharia surged forward to take second place with a time of 1:05:22, with the 22 year-old Kassap a close third at 1:05:24.

Last year's SVHM top female half-marathoner, Toronto's Lioudmila Kortchaguina, led the women's race from the start line, finishing with a time of 1:15:19. Anastasia Ndereba of Kenya placed a solid second just behind her with 1:15:41. One of B.C.'s top runners, Tina Connelly, said she was "happy to be in the top three" and ran "her own race" to finish third in 1:18:52.

The 5K Run/Walk saw Irish teen, Henry Rowan, cross the finish line first with a time of 17:58, while Canada Running Series Western coordinator Teresa Nightingale of B.C. was the top female finisher, and second across the line with a time of 19:30.

The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K Run/Walk is part of the prestigious Canada Running Series. Growing annually in popularity, it is also a highly successful fundraising event. All pledges plus a portion of the team registration fees from both the Half-Marathon and 5K Run/Walk will fund fellowships to train more surgeons in breast reconstruction.

While donations are still being tallied, the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation hopes to exceed last year's fundraising total of $65,000. Scotiabank will match up to $15,000 raised by its employees, many of whom participated in today's events. There was an emotional moment at the awards ceremony when Scotiabank employee and top fundraiser Patty Scrase spoke of a colleague who lost her battle with cancer, and the continuing battle of another. Patty raised a total of $6,700.

For complete race results, please go to www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm or contact Race Director, Alan Brookes, at (416) 464-7437.