Tara Quinn-Smith Sets Course Record at Emilie's Run 5K

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By Ken Parker
Posted Monday, 22 June, 2009

From Ryan Lamppa, Running USA

OTTAWA, Canada - (June 20, 2009) - Tara Quinn-Smith of the Toronto based Brooks Running Project set a new course record of 16 minutes, 16 seconds at the Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race for Women in Ottawa on Saturday morning. Quinn-Smith, who set a Canadian half-marathon record this past April, took the lead just past the 2K mark from Ethiopian Firehiwot Gebreyesus (who had lead from the gun) and she ran away from the field. Quinn-Smith, 29, closed with a 3:15 last kilometer to break the previous course record of 16:30 set by two-time winner Nicole Stevenson in 2006.

Interestingly, Stevenson, who did not run this year, had sent race director Ken Parker an email on Friday predicting that Tara would run 16:12 to break her record.

The race unfolded with Gebreyesus running the first 1K in 3:03 stringing out the record sized field of 364 on the scenic Rockcliffe Parkway route.

After the turn-around, Quinn-Smith (photo left courtesy of Steve Bower) was cheered on as she headed home by the outgoing runners. She ran the fourth kilometer in 3:28 her slowest kilometer split of the race before picking up the pace in the last kilometer (3:15).

Kingston's Emily Tallen placed second in 16:34 and Gebreyesus finished third (16:56). Masters runner Paula Wiltse finished fourth overall in 17:30 and Josiane Aboungono was fifth in 17:43.

The Running Skirts Team of Gebreyesus, Aboungono and Aynadis Bedada won the team championship.

Dana Buchanan of the Ottawa Lions was the top local finisher in 17:49.

Overall, 364 women completed the 5K, up from 290 in 2008. 33 women broke the 20:00 mark, while 143 completed the children's 12 and under 1K run.

4th Emilie's Run 5K Race for Women
Ottawa, CAN, Saturday, June 20, 2009

1) Tara Quinn-Smith (CAN), 16:16*
2) Emily Tallen (CAN), 16:34
3) Firehiwot Gebreyesus (ETH), 16:56
4) Paula Wiltse (CAN), 17:30
5) Josiane Aboungono (GAB), 17:43
6) Dana Buchanan (CAN), 17:49
7) Aynadis Bedada (CAN), 17:53
8) Sarah Dillabaugh (CAN), 17:58
9) Liz Maguire (CAN), 17:59
10) Amy Schneeberg (CAN), 18:07
*course record (previous record, 16:30, Nicole Stevenson (CAN), 2006)

MASTERS (40+)
1) Wiltse, see above
2) Liz Maguire (CAN), 17:59
3) Leslie Sanderson (CAN), 18:16
4) Isabelle Ledroit (CAN), 18:30
5) Judy Andrew Piel (CAN), 18:44

Complete results and more at: www.emiliesrun.com

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