Canada Wins First North American 5K Team Championship
Emilie Mondor Sets Canadian and Course Records

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Posted Monday, 25 October, 2004

CHULA VISTA, Calif. - (Oct. 24, 2004) - Canada used a dominating 1-2 women's finish by Olympians Emilie Mondor and Malindi Elmore on Sunday to secure its first title at the North American 5K Team Championship against teams from Mexico and the United States. Canada's win leveled team honors at one each for the three continental rivals in the three-year-old showcase competition of the 16th Arturo Barrios Invitational.

"We came in third in 2002 and second in 2003," said Canadian team manager Marek Jedrzejek, "and there is always next year, but we wanted to do it today. We were confident we brought a strong women's team, but it depended on the men. And they came through for us."

Canada's Reid Coolsaet ran with the favored Mexican men's squad throughout the competition and took third at the finish (14:03) behind two-time men's champion Alejandro Suarez (13:56) and Rafael Sanchez (13:59). Canada's key finisher, then, became 26-year-old Ryan McKenzie of Windsor, Ontario. His sixth place finish in 14:19 locked up the N.A. Team Championship for the red-clad northerners. Mexico, the 2002 titlists, found its women's squad unable to live up to their men's 1-2 finish. Olympian Angelica Sanchez could manage no better than fifth, while Elisa Cuellar of Mexico City finished 8th for a Mexican total of 16 points, good for second in the team honors.

Last year's champion, USA, utilized a similar consistent finish strategy that won them the 2003 title, but in 2004 their 5/7 men, 3-4 women's finishes only mustered 19 points, three behind the 2002 champion Mexicans.

The men's race boiled down to a four-man battle within the first half-mile among defending champion Suarez, 24-year-old Rafael Sanchez, 22-year-old Armando Torres and the 25-year-old Coolsaet of Guelph, Ontario. They stayed together until the final sprint where the Olympian Suarez broke to the front in a repeat of last year's win.

"This year there was less competition from the U.S.," said Suarez. "But the race was good. I tried to set a fast pace from the start, because I knew my teammates could follow me. And I liked that the people were cheering for me. There is more enthusiasm here than in Mexico."

Last year, Mondor's 15:23 individual victory set a new course record for the 2-3/4 loop 5K course around scenic Chula Vista Harbor. This year, she wanted to better her Canadian record - 15:19 set at the 2003 Carlsbad 5000, and after averaging 4:54 for the entire distance, she posted a new national record 15:16. In addition, Mondor earned a $1,000 cash bonus for her course record.

"I believe running is an art," said the 23-year-old 5000 meter Olympian. "And I want to give the fans a good show. I actually had more fun running this race than I did running at the Olympics. This is a community event, and to be out here with all the other people and runners - I run with my guts and my heart."

Mondor never shared the lead or looked back en route to her victory. She had an 11 second lead at the mile and extended it throughout the picturesque course. Battling for second were Elmore, a member of the Canadian Olympic team at 1500 meters, along with Americans Collette Liss of Indianapolis, 4th at the 2004 USA 1500 meters and Amy Mortimer, a graduate assistant coach at Boston College who was fresh off a 4th place finish at the October 11th Tufts 10K in Boston.

With Canada's win, the three North American countries each share one victory in the three-year-old team format. Next year will break the tie.

A prize purse of $25,000 was awarded to the teams, with the Canadians receiving $12,000, Mexico $6,000 for second place and $3,000 to the third place USA team. The individual champions each received $1,300 for their winning efforts.

In the People's Races, Justin Patananan, a 24-year-old UCLA graduate, won the men's 10K in a time of 30:49, while 22-year-old Andrea Palacio of Northridge, Calif., won the women's race in 36:18. Local favorite Nazario Romero won the men's 5K in 15:31 followed by 13-year-old Sallie Privett of Coronado, who won the women's 5K in 19:06. Over 4,200 runners and walkers enjoyed the festivities at the 16th annual Arturo Barrios 5K & 10K.

North American 5K Team Championship at Arturo Barrios 5K/10K
Chula Vista, CA, Sunday, Oct 24, 2004

TEAM
1. Canada, 12, $12,000
2. Mexico, 16, $6,000
3. Team USA, 19, $3,000
(top 2 per gender score)

MEN
1. Alejandro Suarez, 24, Mexico, 13:56, $1,300
2. Rafael Sanchez, 24, Mexico, 13:59, $700
3. Reid Coolsaet, 25, Canada, 14:03
4. Armando Torres, 22, Mexico, 14:07
5. Jonathon Riley, 25, USA/CA, 14:12
6. Ryan McKenzie, 26, Canada, 14:19
7. Chad Johnson, 28, USA/MN, 14:26
8. Josh Eberly, 24, USA/MI, 14:36
9. Andrew Smith, 25, Canada, 14:42

WOMEN
1. Emilie Mondor, 23, Canada, 15:16*, $2,300
2. Malindi Elmore, 24, Canada, 16:00, $700
3. Collette Liss, 31, USA/IN, 16:03
4. Amy Mortimer, 23, USA/MA, 16:07
5. Angelica Sanchez, 28, Mexico, 16:28
6. Jody Hawkins, 38, USA/TX, 16:43
7. Tara Quinn Smith, 24, Canada, 16:53
8. Elisa Cuellar, 31, Mexico, 17:03
9. Paola,Cabrera,33, Mexico, 17:48
*Canadian record (previous record, 15:19, Mondor, 2003); course record (previous record - 15:23, Mondor, 2003)

For more race results, go to: www.eliteracing.com

Related info:
Running USA

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