Rachel Cliff looks to defend Canadian title while competing for local charity

Ottawa – Run Ottawa and Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend announced today the start list for the Ottawa 10K – the only IAAF Gold Label 10K event in Canada and one of only four IAAF Gold Label 10Ks in the world – which will also serve as the 2018 Canadian 10K Championships. The race is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 26.

For the past three years, Ottawa Race Weekend – Canada’s largest multi-day running event that brings together tens of thousands of runners from across Canada and around the world – has played host to the Canadian 10K Championships and continues to draw some of the biggest names in Canadian road racing. The 2018 edition of the event will see one of the most competitive women’s fields in recent history, with the return of Rachel Cliff, Natasha Wodak and Victoria Coates who all stood on the podium in 2017.

“Our friends at Run Ottawa do a fantastic job of drawing some of the biggest names in road racing each year; not only Canadians to compete for a National title, but also some of the top athletes from around the world, this year is no different,” said Athletics Canada’s Chief Operating Officer Mathieu Gentès. “Year-after-year, they put on a world-class event – one of the country’s biggest road running celebrations – giving Canadian athletes an unforgettable experience. We couldn’t ask for a better partner and ally when it comes to promoting road racing in Canada.”

Cliff, who returns to Ottawa as the reigning Canadian champion aims to defend her title. “I had a great time in Ottawa last year, the race itself went well and Ottawa is a fun city to visit, especially in the summer. Run Ottawa puts on a very special event and I’m looking forward to coming back to defend my title,” said Cliff. “I know it will be a tough race; Natasha Wodak is in great form after a strong showing at the Commonwealth Games and the Canadian distance running scene gets deeper every year. I expect that several Canadian women will be ready to compete on May 26.”

This year’s event features a unique twist as Cliff will also be competing for a local charity as part of the 10K Dream Team Challenge. The 2017 Canadian Champion is one of 16 elite runners who will be drafted by one of four local charities, running not only for herself but also for a very deserving charity.

“I’m excited about the Scotiabank Charity Challenge and feel fortunate to have been selected to compete in the 10K Dream Team Challenge; only 16 elite-level athletes from around the world were chosen to compete as part of a team,” said Cliff. “Having the team competition will definitely add another element for me. No matter how the race is going, there will be that extra motivation to compete until the end and to place well. Not just for myself, but for my team and the charity.”

The Canadian women’s start list includes:

• Natasha Wodak – 2017 Silver medalist and 4th-place finisher in the women’s 10,000-metres at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
• Victoria Coates – 2017 Bronze medallist and 2017 Canadian 10,000-metres Champion
• Claire Sumner – 2017 Canadian Cross Country Champion
• Leslie Sexton – 2017 Canadian Marathon Champion
• Jessica O’Connell – 2016 Olympian and 2017 Silver medallist at the Canadian 5K Championships

The Canadian men’s start list includes:

• Evan Esselink – 2017 Canadian 10,000-metres Champion
• Ross Proudfoot – 2015/2016 Canadian Cross Country Champion

To view the start list for the 2018 Canadian 10K Championships, in addition to the Ottawa 10K start list, click here.

In order to qualify for Canadian 10K Championship prize money, athletes must be Canadian citizens, members of Athletics Canada and registered as elite runners. The following prize purse is available for both the men and women’s field:

1st – $3,000
2nd – $1,500
3rd – $1,000
4th – $750
5th – $500
6th – $400
7th – $300
8th – $200

If a Canadian citizen in the elite field breaks the National record, they will win a bonus of $2,500. Lynn Williams currently holds the women’s record with a time of 31:44, while Paul McCloy holds the men’s at 28:17.

The 2018 Canadian 10K Championships will be live-streamed on AthleticsCanada.tv. For more information on the race and Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, please visit www.runottawa.ca.

Related information:

• 2018 Ottawa 10K start list
• 10-to-watch at the 2018 Ottawa 10K
• Elites participating in the 10K Dream Team Challenge
• Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend’s official announcement (includes additional information pertaining to the 10K Dream Team Challenge)

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