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Nicole Stevenson wins for the second time in three years - she was second last year
Toronto's Nicole Stevenson, a member of the Etobicoke Huskies Track Club, led from the gun to capture today's Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race for Women run from the Aviation Museum in the nation's capital.
Stevenson, one of Canada's top female marathoners, established an eight second lead over a group of four runners by 1K and then hung on to win by 5.3 seconds over Kingston's Paula Wiltse, 16:567 to 17:2.0. London's Lanni Marchant, a member of the Ottawa Athletic Club Racing Team placed third in 17:08.6. Marilyn Arsenault of Victoria, BC, another Masters runner, was fourth in 17:31.8. Cynthia Wilson, a top triathlete, who recently won the Milton and Muskoka triathlons placed fifth in a personal best time of 17:41.4.
After a month of rain and frequent thunderstorms, runners were greeted by sunny skies and calm winds for the third edition of the race, named after Emilie Mondor - one of Canada's top female runners, and the first Canadian woman to break 15:00 for 5K and an Athens Olympian - who was killed on a car accident in September of 2006 while on her way home to Mascouche, Quebec for a high-school reunion.
Emilie Mondor's parents were present for the race honouring their late daughter who was training for the marathon at the time of her death with the goal of representing Canada at this summer's Beijing Olympics.
290 runners completed the race, 50 more than took part last year. 38 women ran under 20 minutes almost double the number of sub 20:00 female performances in all of the 5K races in Ottawa to-date this year.
One of those who broke the 20:00 mark was Paula Hickman of Ottawa who turns 58 in July!
Runners were competing for $7,650.00 in prize money including $100 "primes" for the leader at each kilometer - all taken by Stevenson.
The Tri-City team of Stevenson, Wiltse and Arsenault took first place team honours while two teams from the Ottawa Athletic Club Racing Team took second (Marchant, Wilson and Liz Maguire) and third (Michelle Schuler, Jacqueline Sandoz and Lisa Balerna).
There was also an accompanying 1K run for children 12 and under with 86 competitors.
Stevenson holds the course record for the race at 16:28.7, set in her win in 2006.
The Ottawa Athletic Club Racing Team, a local women's running club, took 16 out of the 38 sub 20:00 performances , four in the top ten, third overall and third Masters and the second and third place team awards.
Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race for Women - June 21, 2008 Results:
Open:
1. Nicole Stevenson, Toronto, ON 16:56.7 ($1,400) *
2. Paula Wiltse, Kingston, ON 17:02.0 ($1,500) *
3. Lanni Marchant, London, ON 17:08.6 ($500) *
4. Marilyn Arsenault, Victoria BC 17:31.8 ($400) *
5. Cynthia Wilson, Gatineau, QC ($300) *
Masters:
1. Paula Wiltse
2. Marilyn Arsenault
3. Liz Maguire, Ottawa, ON ($350)*
4. Leslie Sanderson, Ottawa, ON ($250)
5. Beth Primrose, Brockville, ON ($150) *
* (Note - plus a share of team cash prizes of $1,000 for first, $750 for second and $500 for third)
Complete results are available at: SportStats.
Toronto's Nicole Stevenson wins the 2008 Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race for Women - Photo - Steve Bower
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