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Bor, Gebresilase and Murayama Lead Ottawa 10k Men's Field

by Brett Larner


2015 winner Nicholas Bor (Kenya), former Tokyo Kokusai University runner Leul Gebresilase (Ethiopia) and the 2017 New Year Ekiden champion team Asahi Kasei's star twin Kenta Murayama (Japan) lead the elite men's field for Saturday's Ottawa 10K, part of the Tamarack Homes Ottawa Race Weekend. Out of competition for almost two years with injury, Bor indicated at the pre-race press conference that his training had been good. Winner of Nigeria's Okpekpe 10 km two weeks ago, Gebresilase was confident of his chances.

Murayama, 5th in March's NYC Half in 1:00:57, said that he planned to play an active role in the race and hoped to even the score against Gebresilase, who beat him in both of their meetings on the track in Japan. Speaking to Japanese media prior to his departure for Ottawa, Murayama said that in terms of time he will be going for the 28:05 Japanese national record for road 10 km currently held by Atsushi Sato. If he succeeds he will join his twin brother Kota Murayama, holder of the track 10000 m national record of 27:29.69.

The Ottawa 10K will be streamed live starting at 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening. Check the Athletics Canada site and the Run Ottawa site for more information. Live results and athlete tracking are available here. Murayama appears in Ottawa with support from JRN.

Ottawa 10K Elite Men's Field Highlights
Ottawa, Canada, 5/27/17

Leul Gebresilase (Ethiopia) - 27:19.71 (track, 2016)
Nicholas Bor (Kenya) - 27:38 (road, 2014)
Kenta Murayama (Japan/Asahi Kasei) - 27:39.95 (track, 2015)
Eric Gillis (Canada) - 28:07.19 (track, 2008)
Martin Hehir (U.S.A.) - 28:08.60 (track, 2017)
Tolossa Gedefa (Ethiopia) - 28:16 (road, 2012)
Tristan Woodfine (Canada) - 28:56.53 (track, 2014)
Taher Belkorchi (Morocco) - 29:16 (road, 2010)
Matt Loiselle (Canada) - 29:18 (road, 2010)
Kevin Tree (Canada) - 29:18.86 (track, 2016)
Bonsa Gonfa (Ethiopia) - debut

text and photo © 2017 Brett Larner
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