- Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge raises record amount
                           for 15 local charities -VANCOUVER, June 28 /CNW/ - Kenyan Kip Kangogo cruised to a convincing win
in 1:03:35 - more than a minute ahead of the second place finisher in the
men's half-marathon division - leading a record field of more than 4,350
runners at the 11th Annual Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon (SVHM).
Lioudmila Kortchaguina of Thornhill, ON had a similarly easy time of things,
taking the women's half-marathon title in 1:16:10, almost two minutes ahead of
Calgary's Lisa Harvey. Another 750 individuals participated in the event's 5K
fun run/walk. The race attracted runners from eight provinces and 20
countries, including almost 200 American runners. The Scotiabank Group Charity
Challenge also broke this year's fundraising goal, raising an impressive
$312,000 - and counting - for 15 local charities.
    The 29-year-old Kangogo ran shoulder to shoulder with fellow Kenyan Willy
Kimosop, who surged through the first 10K in a time of 18:36 before dropping
off in the later stages to hang on for 4th (1:06:02). Kimosop, 22, who trains
with Kangogo in Lethbridge, AB, won the 2009 Vancouver Sun Run and Times
Colonist 10K. Kangogo made his move on the rise from Jericho to 4th Avenue,
opening up a 100 metre gap to drop second place finisher Josephat Ongeri
(1:04:53). Giitah Macharia of Oakville, ON, who has struggled of late, had to
come in under 66 minutes to prove fitness. He ran a tactical race to finish
third in 1:05:35 and should be on his way to Berlin. Women's half-marathon
winner Lioudmila Kortchaguina led the women wire to wire, redeeming herself
following poor performances in 2007 and '08 when she struggled with a hip
injury.Half-Marathon Male
    ------------------
    1. Kip Kangogo, Kenya                      1:03:35
    2. Josephat Ongeri, Kenya                  1:04:53
    3. Giitah Macharia, Oakville, ON           1:05:35
    4. Willy Kimosop, Kenya                    1:06:02
    5. Baghdad Rachem, Montreal, QC            1:06:35

    Half-Marathon Female
    --------------------
    1. Lioudmila Korthchaguina, Thornhill, ON  1:16:10
    2. Lisa Harvey, Calgary, AB                1:18:05
    3. Josiane Aboungono, Toronto, ON          1:20:34
    4. Katherine Moore, Vancouver, BC          1:21:12
    5. Nathalie Goyer, Bruno, QC               1:22:20

    Masters Male (40 - 44)
    ----------------------
    1. Terry Gehl, St. Charles QC              1:11:21
    2. Keefer Whan, Mount Vernon, WA           1:16:38
    3. Dave Stephens, North Vancouver, BC      1:16:52

    Masters Female (40 - 44)
    ------------------------
    1. Nathalie Goyer, Bruno, QC               1:22:20
    2. Janette Purdham, Vancouver, BC          1:25:56
    3. Rebecca Reid, Vancouver, BC             1:26:51


    This year's event also saw the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge expand
to 15 local charities:

        -  Adoptive Families Association of B.C.
        -  Alzheimer Society of B.C.
        -  The Arthritis Society, B.C. & Yukon Division
        -  BC Cancer Foundation
        -  BC Children's Hospital Foundation
        -  Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
        -  Big Sisters of B.C. Lower Mainland
        -  BC SPCA
        -  CNIB
        -  The Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon
        -  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
        -  MS Society of Canada - BC & Yukon Division
        -  St. Paul's Hospital Foundation
        -  Tapestry Foundation for Health Care
        -  YWCA VancouverIn its 11 year history, the SVHM has raised more than $1.2 million for
local community charities. Scotiabank is again sponsoring three team prizes,
each worth $5,000, for the charities that raise the most money, raise the most
money per runner, and have the most runners participating (with a minimum of
$10 raised per runner). The awards will be announced after July 15th, the
deadline for all pledges to be handed in.

    For complete race results, please visit
http://www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm.

    About the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K:
    Launched in 1999, the event, which is part of the prestigious Canada
Running Series, features one of the most scenic routes, starting at UBC
Thunderbird Stadium to Stanley Park, a 5K "fun run/walk" and the Scotiabank
Group Charity Challenge, which offers a unique opportunity for runners and
walks to raise funds for local community charities. Growing in popularity year
by year, the half-marathon attracts elite runners and participants from across
Canada, points in the U.S. and 20 countries.

    About Scotiabank:
    Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live
and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally
and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic
activities, in 2008 the Bank provided more than $43 million in sponsorships
and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas
of healthcare, education and social services. Scotiabank is on the World Wide
Web at www.scotiabank.com./NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: Photos accompanying this release are available on
    the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
    Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
    website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
    members of the media/