Korir and Girma lead at today's Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon

Scotiabank Charity Challenge raises more than $800,000

OTTAWA, May 26, 2019 /CNW/ - Kenya's 25-year-old Albert Korir won today's Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon with a strong time of 2:08:03. Two Ethiopians – Abera Kuma, 28 and Tsedat Ayana, 23, finished close behind with times of 2:08:14 and 2:08:53 respectively.

The sun was shining for the 45th edition of the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, with 3,500 taking part. Credit: Run Ottawa (CNW Group/Scotiabank)

In the women's category, Tigist Girma, 25, from Ethiopia pulled ahead of the pack just after the half-way mark to post a personal best time of 2:26:34 – a full 10 seconds faster than her 2018 personal best set at the Guangzhou, China Marathon last December. This marks the 10^th year in a row that an Ethiopian woman takes top prize in the marathon distance in Ottawa. Joining Girma in second and third place were fellow Ethiopians Betelhem Moges, 28 with a time of 2:27:00, and Etaferahu Temesgen, 29, with 2:28:44.

Placing eighth overall and the first Canadian man was Reid Coolsaet, 39, from Hamilton. Crossing the finish line with 2:17:37, the two time Olympian was considered one to watch coming into this year's race. Rounding out the top three Canadians were Alister Gardner, 38, with a time of 2:31:54 and Francois Landry, 43, at 2:36:51.

Top Canadian woman and placing sixth overall today was Dayna Pidhoresky, 32, from Vancouver, who came in at 2:37:19. Second and third place Canadian women were Krista Duchene, 42, with 2:38:46 and Rachel Hannah, 32, with 2:41:31.

"We assembled a very competitive field of men and women elite runners again this year and are pleased with the strong results they delivered," says Manny Rodrigues, Elite Athlete Coordinator, Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.

2019 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend a resounding success!

More than 32,000 runners participated in the six races that made up Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend on May 25-26.

No course records were broken this year, but elite racers gave spectators some exciting moments at the finish line of the 10K race with the top two women – Kenyans Dorcas Kimeli and Valery Jemeli finishing just three seconds apart.

Here's how final registration numbers for the 2019 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend shaped up:

Ottawa 2K – 2,861
Ottawa 5K – 7,743 – (SOLD OUT)
Ottawa 10K – 8,179
Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon – 3,515 – (SOLD OUT)
Scotiabank Ottawa Kids Marathon – 1,167
Scotiabank Ottawa Half-Marathon – 8,738
TOTAL: 32,203

"We faced a number of unique challenges coming into this year's races, what with road work and recent flooding forcing changes to some of the routes," says John Halvorsen, Race Director, Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. "But I am very happy with this year's memorable turn-out, thanks to the athletes, our partners and especially the volunteers."

More than $800,000 raised through fundraising through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge

More than $800,000 was raised as part of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge by participants who used the event to support one of 70 local charities.

Scotiabank has been investing in communities for 187 years. Scotiabank believes in helping young people reach their infinite potential, and many organizations who take part in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge have a direct impact on young people in our communities. At Scotiabank we are dedicated to supporting the success of young people for the long-term. We recognize what is possible when young people have the guidance, confidence and tools they need to achieve their dreams.

"The Scotiabank Charity Challenge provides a simple way for runners to support local causes that make a big difference in people's lives," says Frank Bilodeau, District Vice President, Ottawa Centre & Gatineau at Scotiabank. "This weekend, racers demonstrated their commitment to their community by raising more than $800,000 in support of local charities. We're proud that the Scotiabank Charity Challenge continues to be an important part of the weekend events, year after year and applaud all racers for their efforts."

Background information:

Top 20: 2019 Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon
Awards and prizes
Charities in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge

About the Scotiabank Charity Challenge
The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a turnkey fundraising program that provides a simple way for runners in these races to support local causes that make a significant impact on Canadian communities. Participating charities keep 100 per cent of the proceeds raised, as Scotiabank pays for all transaction and credit card fees. Scotiabank offers the Scotiabank Charity Challenge at six sponsored marathon events across Canada including Montréal, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto. Since 2003, over 70 million has been raised as part of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge across Canada.

About Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend
The 2019 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend welcomed more than 31,000 participants in six races, including the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, the Scotiabank Half Marathon, the Ottawa 10K, the Ottawa 5K, the Ottawa 2K and Scotiabank Ottawa Kids Marathon.

The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is one of only two running events in the world to host two IAAF Gold Label races: the Ottawa 10K and the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon. The 2020 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend will take place May 23-24, 2020. For more information: http://www.runottawa.ca

About Scotiabank
At Scotiabank, we aim to support organizations that are committed to helping young people reach their infinite potential. Young people are our future leaders and Scotiabank's goal is to help ensure that they have the necessary skills and resources they need to support their success. Together with our employees, the Bank supports causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2018, Scotiabank contributed more than $80 million to help our communities around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in the Americas. We are dedicated to helping our more than 25 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 98,000 employees1 and assets of over $1 trillion (as at January 31, 2019), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

The 45th Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon was a big success with more than 32,000 people taking part and raising an estimated $800,000 for 70 local charities as part of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. Credit: Run Ottawa (CNW Group/Scotiabank)