Athletics: Tara Quinn-Smith Sets Course Record at Emilie's Run
Tara Quinn-Smith of the Toronto based Brooks Running Project set a new course record of 16:15.7 in the Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race for Women in Ottawa this morning. Quinn-Smith, who set a Canadian Half-Marathon record in April of this year, took the lead just past the 2K mark from Ethiopian Firehiwot Gebreyesus ,who had lead from the gun, and ran away from the field. She closed with a 3:15 last K to break the previous course record of 16:29.7 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 K in 3:03 stringing out the record sized field of 364 on the scenic Rockcliffe Parkway route.
After the turn-around, Tara was cheered on as she headed home by the outgoing runners. She ran the fourth kilometer in 3:28 her slowest K split of the race before picking up the pace in the last kilometer (3:15).
Kingston's Emily Tallen placed second in 16:33.7 and Gebreyesus finished third in 16:55.8. Masters runner Paula Wiltse finished fourth overall in 17:30.0 and Josiane Aboungono was fifth in 17:42,4.
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 17:48.6.
364 women completed the 5K, up from 290 in 2008. 33 women broke the 20:00 mark. 143 completed the Children's 12 and under 1K run.
Top 10 Overall:
1 Tara Quinn-Smith Toronto 16:15.7 ($1,000.00) *
2 Emily Tallen Kingston 16:33.7 ($750.00)
3 Firehiwot Gebreyesus Milton 16:55.8 ($550.00) **
4 Paula Wiltse Brockville 17:30.0 ($400.00)
5 Josiane Aboungono Milton 17:42.4 ($300.00)
6 Dana Buchanan Beachburg 17:48.6
7 Aynadis Bedada Milton 17:52.9
8 Sarah Dillabaugh Ottawa 17:57.2
9 Liz Maguire Ottawa 17:58.6
10 Amy Schneeberg Kingston 18:06.5
Top 5 Masters (40+)
1 Paula Wiltse Brockville 17:30.0 ($750.00)
2 Liz Maguire Ottawa 17:58.6 ($500.00)
3 Leslie Sanderson Ottawa 18:15.5 ($350.00)
4 Isabelle Ledroit Montreal 18:29.6 ($250.00)
5 Judy Andrew Piel Nepean 18:43.7 ($150.00)
(* = + $200.00 for primes at 3 and 4K. ** = + $200.00 for primes at 1 and 2K)
The top team - Running Skirts from Toronto - won $1,000.00. The second place team - Queens University from Kingston - won $750.00 and the third place team - Physi-Kult from Kingston - won $500.00.
Complete results - including splits at each kilometer - are available at SportStats.ca
Tara Quinn-Smith set a new course record of 16:15.7 in this morning's Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race for Women in Ottawa - Photo: Steve Bower
9-year old Rhianyth Warwick (584) of Toronto finishing the Children's 12 and under 1K - Photo: RunnersWeb.com
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
