45th Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon draws the world’s fastest men

Seven men capable of beating 2:06:54 course record

May 21 update: Marius Kimutai (KEN) has scratched.

May 15, 2019 – OTTAWA – The men’s race at the IAAF Gold 2019 Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon promises to be exciting, with seven men boasting personal bests (PB) faster than the current course record of 2:06:54.

Leading the charge will be Ethiopian Abera Kuma who comes to Ottawa with a personal best of 2:05:50 set in Rotterdam last year. His compatriot, and last year’s 3rd place finisher in Ottawa, Adugna Takele recently ran a PB of 2:06:32 in Dubai. Joining them will be Marius Kimutai of Kenya who has a PB of 2:05:47, and his countryman Martin Kosgey who boasts a PB of 2:06:41.

On the women’s side, Tirfi Tsegaye of Ethiopia, who ran 2:19:41 in 2016, will be making a comeback in Ottawa following the recent birth of her son. She will be joined by Abeba-Tekula Gabremeskel of Ehtiopia, who knocked five minutes off her personal best earlier this year.

Canadians to watch at the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon include crowd favourite and two-time Olympian Reid Coolsaet who has his eyes set on qualifying for his third Olympic Games in 2020, and Rachel Hannah, who set her PB of 2:32:09 in Houston in 2016.

The 45th Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon will take place Sunday, May 26 at 7:00 a.m. (ET).

How to watch:

The race will be tweeted live @OttawaMarathon, and broadcast live on www.runottawa.ca and locally on Rogers-22.  The event will also be broadcast live at www.runottawa.ca and on Rogers-TV in Ottawa with world-renowned road racing commentator Tim Hutchings and Run Ottawa Board Chair Mark Sutcliffe in the commentators’ seat.

Background information:

“With seven men capable of breaking the current course record, we are sure to have an exciting race in Ottawa on May 26. “-Manny Rodrigues, Elite Athlete Coordinator, Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon