Posted: May 17, 2005

Athletics: Nicole Stevenson And Matt Mcinnes Announced As Team Toronto In Search For Canada's Fastest City

Toronto's Nicole Stevenson at the 2004 ING Ottawa Marathon Photo courtesy of Action Sports International, www.asiphoto.com

Top Canadian marathoners Nicole Stevenson and Matt McInnes are ready to pound the pavement as Team Toronto in the ING Run for Something Better, part of the ING Ottawa Marathon on May 29.

Announced today at the University of Toronto Athletic Centre , Stevenson and McInnes will represent Toronto in a competition involving athletes from six other Canadian cities for $55,000 in prize money, which will be used to introduce underprivileged children to the joy of running.

Stevenson, 31, is Canada 's premiere woman marathoner, the 2004 Canadian Marathon Champion and a member of the Newmarket Huskies Track Club.

"I've always felt long-distance running is the perfect sport," says Stevenson. "It teaches people endurance, self-reliance and fortitude - all traits that children need to learn in order to become confident and successful."

McInnes, 30, who is also a doctor, was the 2004 Canadian Marathon Champion as well as a top-ranked Canadian half-marathoner. McInnes says that being part of Team Toronto in the ING Run for Something Better is a great opportunity.

"This is an excellent example of how a private company (ING) can exact a positive influence on Canada 's youth," says McInnes. "This program will help encourage an increasingly inactive cohort of children to learn how the sport of running can become a pillar of a healthy way of life."

all seven teams will win a portion of the prize money, with the winning city receiving $10,000. Toronto 's money will be split between Kidsfest Canada 's Running and Reading Club and U of T Junior Development's Track Scholarship Program (a joint initiative with Toronto Community Housing Corporation).

"As defending Canadian Champions, Nicole and Matt now have the opportunity to combine forces for a new personal venture," says Hugh Cameron, head coach of the Newmarket Huskies. "Through their sport, their efforts will directly contribute to a beneficial program in their city, so that underprivileged kids seeking hope can share in new activities they might not otherwise experience."

Carl Georgevski, head coach for U of T Varsity Track and Field, says the ING Run for Something Better is a fantastic chance for running clubs to encourage underprivileged youth to get active while building their confidence. "During the last year in our track scholarship program, I've seen shy and uncertain youngsters transformed into self-assured young people. The encouragement and training they receive is not just improving their race times, but also their life skills."