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NEWS Sep 10 2003

Toronto Waterfront Marathon
September 10, 2003

Russian star Lyubov Morgunova confirmed for exciting duel at Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Lyubov MorgunovaThe Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront's bid to return international-class marathoning to Canada's largest city just got a whole lot more legitimate with the confirmation of Lyubov Morgunova, a member of the Russian National Team with a personal best of 2:26:32, for the 28th September event.

Morgunova is also a 2-time winner of the prestigious Honolulu Marathon, with 25,000+ participants, where she is the course record holder. "One of her biggest wins," says agent Konstantin Selinevich, "came when she smashed the long time course record in Honolulu in 2000. Running 2:28 in Hawaii is outstanding". In 2001, Morgunova also placed 4th at the illustrious Boston Marathon.

Since then, Lyubov has taken time out to have her first child, Anna. Anna was born in October 2002, in Kaliningrad, Western Russia, near the Lithuanian border, where Lyubov has a home with husband Alexander, a retired ship's captain who is now her coach. She divides her time between Kaliningrad and Moscow, where they have an apartment. If she needs altitude training she goes to an athlete Camp in the city of Kislovodsk in the Caucasus mountains.

According to Selinevich, "Lyubov enjoys being a mom. Her sister, friends and her husband help her to take care of the baby when she trains. She has pretty big motivation to come back on the high level in running. I think she is an athlete who will perform well after her first child. We've seen lots of examples of that (like Sonia O'Sullivan)."

Morgunova expects to run Honolulu again to defend her titles in December, and "to run something big" in the Spring of 2004. Selinevich says that," She decided to come to Toronto because it fits in her comeback schedule just perfect. She wants to see where she is, and she hopes to win the race." She was also undoubtedly attracted by the CDN$5,000 first-place prize and the additional $4,000 in time bonuses available to the winner, put up by title sponsor Scotiabank, for the first time this year.

Morgunova's participation sets up what should be an exciting battle with up-and-coming top Canadian, Nicole Stevenson. Stevenson ran 2:36:57 to win the Waterfront in her marathon debut on a hot, steamy day last year, when the event was staged 2 weeks earlier. Expecting better conditions, and coming off a strong performance at The Crim 10 Miler in Michigan 2 weeks ago, Stevenson claims she is, "aiming for a super-PB on the 28th". [see interview with Stevenson on www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com]. In Michigan, Stevenson was only 35 seconds behind Anastasia Ndereba, who ran 2:29 at Turin last year. Anastasia is the younger sister of Catherine Ndereba, former world record holder and winner of the recent World Championships Marathon in Paris.

According to Executive Race Director, Alan Brookes, "it will probably take at least 2:32/2:33 to win the Waterfront women's race this year. And 2:13 or better on the men's side. Toronto hasn't had a marathon of this quality in almost a decade."

Brookes is also anxious to emphasize that the Waterfront with its flat, scenic, Lakeshore Boulevard course, is for everyone. "We even have a 6 ½ hour pace bunny this year!"

Besides the classic 42K marathon, there is a half marathon and a 5K Run/walk for charity.

Further event information and online entry [to September 23rd] at
www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com
Further information: Alan Brookes, Executive Race Director, 416 464 7437 [alnbrookes@aol.com];
or Dave Reid, Technical Race Director/Elite Athlete Coordinator, 416 543 4321

Lyubov Morgunova
Member Russian National Athletic Team

DOB:1/14/71
Hometown: Kaliningrad and Moscow, Russia
Team: Mizuno
Personal Records:
10K 32:55, 15K 49:45,
Half-Mar 1:08:45, Mar 2:26:32
Past Performances:
1st (2:29:54) Honolulu Marathon (12/01).
8th (2:28:54) IAAF World Championship, Edmonton, Canada (2001).
3rd (2:27:18) Boston Marathon (4/01).
1st (2:28:33-CR) Honolulu Marathon (12/00).
3rd (1:08:45-PR,NR) Broloppet Half-Mar Copenghagen (DEN)-Malmo (SWE), (2000).
8th (2:26:32) Flora London Marathon (4/00).
23rd (2:32:35) Olympic Games, Sydney, Australia (2000).
4th (1:11:34) Russian Half-Marathon Championship, St. Petersburg (6/99).
1st (2:27:43) Nagoya Int'l Women's Marathon, Japan (1999).
2nd (2:29:21) Delta Lloyd Amsterdam Marathon (1999).
3rd (1:11:29) Great Scottish Run Half-Mar, Glasgow, Scotland (1999).
2nd (2:28:51) Beijing International Mar, China (1998).
7th (2:28:57) Nagoya Int'l Women's Marathon , Japan (1998).
1st (1:09:20) Korolyov Space 20K, Moscow (10/98).

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