Canadian 10k Championship titles up for grabs at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

Athletics Canada logoAthletics Canada’s 2016 Canadian 10k Championships take place Saturday May 28 as part of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend’s Ottawa 10k. The Ottawa 10k is the only IAAF Gold Label recognized 10-kilometres road race event in Canada, and one of only four in the world. The event consistently attracts the world’s best fields, along with Canada’s top athletes.

Those who make the trip to Ottawa are in for a great weekend of racing; fans from around the world can watch all the action live on AthleticsCanada.tv. Start time for the race is 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday May 28.

Women’s Canadian Championship preview

Defending champion Lanni Marchant of London, Ont., leads the list of contenders for the women’s national title. Marchant was Canada’s top finisher at this year’s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships (20th) and ran under the Olympic 10,000m standard earlier this month at the Payton Jordan Invitational (32:10.99).

Canadian 10,000-metres record holder Natasha Wodak of Vancouver, B.C., was last year’s runner-up and took the Canadian Cross Country win last fall. Coming back from injury, Wodak looks to test her fitness and contend for the title. Pan Am Games marathon bronze medallist, Rachel Hannah of Toronto, Ont., should also battle for the top spot in Ottawa.

Other Canadian women to look out for include: last year’s bronze medallist and Canadian 10,000-metres track champion Laura Batterink of Port Perry, Ont., 2015 IAAF World Cross Country team member Lindsay Carson of Whitehorse, Yk., Danielle Thiel of Edmonton, Alta., and teenage prodigy Anne-Marie Comeau of St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que.

Men’s Canadian Championship preview

While still gaining fitness after an injury, Reid Coolsaet of Hamilton, Ont., headlines the men’s field. Earlier this season the 2012 Olympian was Canada’s top male finisher at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships (38th). With Coolsaet returning to form, and a large field of 30 minute performers, this could set the stage for a close and exciting race.

The list of contenders who can challenge Coolsaet include: Matt Loiselle of Toronto, Ont., Pier-Olivier Laflamme of L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que., Kevin Friesen of Vancouver, B.C., Kevin Tree of Tottenham, Ont., and Tristan Woodfine of Guelph, Ont.

For more information on Athletics Canada’s 2016 Canadian 10k Championships, including webcast information, results and complete elite start lists, please visit the event webpage