Posted: October 18, 2004

Athletics: International Elite Field Takes Winners' Podium In 10th Annual Toronto Marathon

Franco and Kovpotina Dominate International Elite Field - New Women's Course Record Set

TORONTO - (October 17, 2004) - On a crisp and often wet autumn day in Toronto, an international elite field of 14 men and 4 women world-class runners took to the streets for the 10th annual running of the Toronto Marathon today. Joining a field of almost 10,000 runners who circumnavigated downtown Toronto, top male and female elite athletes competed for the largest marathon purse in Canada - more than $100,000. The top male and female marathon finishers went home $25,000 richer, with second place finishers taking in $10,000 each and $5,000 for third.

"We had a large elite field today competing for the purse, with over 32 countries represented. On its 10th Anniversary, The Toronto Marathon has gone big time. We are positioning ourselves with A-list marathons in major metropolitan markets such as Boston, New York, London and Chicago. This $100,000 purse gives us a chance to bring in these fabulous elite athletes which in turn increases public participation who are looking for a real challenge. In addition, the economic impact to the city of Toronto is in excess of $1.5 million," said Founder and Race Director Jay Glassman.

First across the finish line and breaking the tape was Procopio Franco from Mexico, who ran in 2:16:42, missing the men's course record by less than a minute (2:15:17 set by Damaoui El Mostafa in 2000) due to wind and rain. Franco represented his country in the recent 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and is a member of the Mexican World Half Marathon Team. He placed first in the 2004 LaLa Marathon in Mexico and first in the 2002 Central American Games Marathon.

Leading the women's pack by over five minutes was Olga Kovpotina from the Ukraine. She blazed into the finish line for first place with a record time of 2:31:47 surpassing the standing women's course record of 2:37:52 set by Kim Webb in 1996. In addition to her $25,000 prize, the Toronto Marathon paid her $1,000 for each full minute below the current course record. Kovpotina has run several sub 2:30's including a fifth place finish at this year's Paris Marathon. With a personal best time of 2:27:27, she has placed second in 2001 Twin Cities Marathon, second in the 2003 Country Music Marathon and second in the 2004 Semi Marathon Coban in Guatemala.

Coming in over a minute later for the Men's second place was Danny Kassap with a time of 2:17:47. Kassap is a Toronto resident and won the 2004 Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon three weeks ago. Bernard Onsare from Kenya came in third exactly one minute later at 2:18:47. Fellow Kenyan Penuel Osoro placed fourth at 2:19:09.

Local resident Lioudmila Kortchaguina from Russia came in second place over four minutes later at 2:36:02. Kortchaguina placed first in the 2003 Pittsburgh Marathon and earned a first place finish in the 2004 Inaugural Salt Lake City Marathon. She won the 2003 Dallas White Rock Marathon and placed sixth in the 2004 Los Angeles Marathon. Romanian Aurica Buia placed third at 2:46:09. She is just coming back from the World Half Marathon competition and is the champion of the 2001 and 2003 Country Music Marathon. Lucia Subano from Kenya ran the course to finish fourth in 2:50:15, far off her fastest finish time of 2:30:29.

"It's unusual for the lead pack to be so far apart in times, we owe some of this to the raw conditions on the course today. We had big headwinds at Hog's Hill and intermittent rain also kept the elite athletes at bay," said race Director Jay Glassman.

Over 200 corporate teams competed in this year's Toronto Marathon Corporate Challenge -- sponsored by HONDA -- representing the top corporations in Canada. Top billing went to Honda Canada Inc. 2 and Honda Canada Inc 3, with Nicholson Catholic College High School placing third.

Capping off an outstanding day for the 10th Annual Toronto Marathon, race officials inaugurated the first Human Spirit Award. The first recipients of the award were the entire Linton Family from North York. Designed to recognize triumphs over adversity and highlight personal stories that are an inspiration to others, the Human Spirit Award also showcases outstanding character, can-do spirit and perseverance.

Six years ago, the Linton's daughter Elisa, then four, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome, a terminal illness that affects only children. Children who suffer from Sanfilippo Syndrome are missing an essential enzyme to break down sugars, resulting in a build-up in the brain and other organs, ultimately stopping development. Most children do not live past their teens and suffer with many physical and mentally debilitating complications. With no cure or treatment available, and very little research worldwide, the Linton's created the Sanfilippo Children's Research Foundation.

Both of Elisa's parents, Elisabeth and Randall have participated in the Toronto Marathon, first as volunteers and then as runners, as have Elisa's sister Jessica and brother Connor. Over the last four years more than 50 runners have participated in the Toronto Marathon, inspired by the Linton family, in order to raise funds for the Sanfilippo Children's Research Foundation. This year the Linton's expect a team of over 30 runners to run in support of Elisa while raising in excess of $60,000! For more information please visit http://www.alifeforelisa.org/

This year's Toronto 10th Anniversary Marathon will be broadcast on Canada's national network, CBC Television Saturday, October 23, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. (EST) and Sunday, October 24, 12:30 p.m. (EST).

Full race results are available at www.torontomarathon.com or SportStats.

Men's Unofficial Marathon Results

Men's Unofficial Marathon Results

PL	Time		BIB #	Name			 
1 	2:16:42.2  	10	FRANCO, PROCOPIO      	MEXICO   
2 	2:17:47.4  	2015 	KASSAP, DANNY                                       
3 	2:18:47.4  	8 	ONSARE, BERNARD      	KENYA
4 	2:19:09.1  	2 	OSORO, PENUEL        	KENYA              
5 	2:20:14.5  	2017 	CUEVAS, ASIER      	SPAIN               
6 	2:20:32.5  	2014 	NSENGIYUMVA, JOSEPH  	RWANDA              
7 	2:24:23.6  	1882 	Raymer, Bruce      	TORONTO        
8 	2:25:50.9  	1 	KAMAU, JOSEPH     	KENYA               
9 	2:27:01.3  	2018 	GILLARD, KIM     	AUSTRALIA           
10 	2:27:47.6  	2107 	GITAU, ANTHONY  	KENYA              

Women's Unofficial Marathon Results

1	2:31.47.3	2031	KOVPOTINA, OLGA		UKRAINE
2	2:37:02.9	2034	KORTCHAGUINE, LIOUDMILA  RUSSIA
3	2:46:09.1	2032	BUIA, AURICA		ROMANIA
4	2:50:15.0	2033	SUBANO, LUCIA		KENYA
5	2:50:35.2	1635	BATSFORD, ANGELA	NORTH BAY
6	2:52:51.0	1897	MACNAMARA,KATE		DUNDAS
7	2:56:24.1	1736	ROBINSON, SEANNA	TORONTO
8	2:57:12.3	1659	SUMMERS, STEPHANIE	WHITBY
9	2:57:25.9	1856	HANNIGAN, AILEEN	OAKVILLE
10	2:59:33.4	1660	ALLISON, MAY		TORONTO

Complete results are available from SportStats.