Posted: October 13, 2005

Athletics: Strong field and record numbers for BELAIRdirect ZooRun 10K on Saturday: Canada Running Series 2005 Grand Finale

TORONTO. 12 October 2005. The stage is all set for a grand finale to the 2005 Canada Running Series at the BELAIRdirect.com ZooRun 10K this Saturday at the Toronto Zoo, Meadowvale Avenue. There is also an accompanying 5K Walk and a CubRun for those under 7 years. The events start at 9:30am, include free entry to the Zoo for the day, and help raise funds for a variety of programmes at the Zoo.

Up front, defending CRS Champion Gittah Macharia of St.Catharines, will start with all the pressure. He needs to be first Canadian resident across the Finish line to retain his title. He'll be hard pressed by Montreal's Algerians--Bagdad Rachem, Dahbi Amor, Oukid Fethi, and Nourredine Betchim--by Toronto's Andrew Smith; and by a bevy of Kenyans led by Jared Nyamboki, Anthony Gitau, and Abel Ondeyo. In a thrilling finish to the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon two weeks, ago, Macharia just outsprinted Ondeyo to win by 2 seconds--so everything is set for an exciting re-match around the rolling, scenic grounds at the Zoo.

The women's race should also se a good battle between Shari Boyle, who is poised to take this year's CRS title, and Burlington's Rebecca Stallwood, Vancouver's Nancy Tinari and this year's Sporting Life 10K winner, Megan Brown of Puslinch.

The Master's Men's race will also feature a super, head-to-head battle between Toronto's Jerry Kooymans and Montreal's Recioui Tewfik, who were only strides apart at the Scotiabank Half.

In all, there will be $8,000 in prize money on the line for Saturday's 10K, plus another $15,500 up for grabs for the 2005 Canada Running Series top finishers.[for up to date Series standings and details see: http://www.canadarunningseries.com/crs/crsDET.htm].

A record number of close to 2,500 participants are expected to toe the Start line on Saturday, on the increasingly popular course for ZooRun. More than 7km of the 10K course, and all of the 5K and CubRun routes are within the 710 acre Zoo grounds--past beautiful Fall colours, lions, tigers, elephants and many of the 5,000 animals in one of the world's finest zoos.

Late registration is still possible, in person, at Sporting Life, 2665 Yonge Street, Toronto, between 10am and 8:30pm on Thursday and Friday, and at the Zoo itself on Saturday morning from 8am onwards. Please check www.canadarunningseries.com/zoorun [daily] to make sure the 10K cap of 2200 runners has not been reached. There are no limits on the 5K or CubRun