Posted: October 13, 2004

Athletics: Athletics Canada names 2004 North American 5km Challenge Team Championship

(Ottawa – October 13, 2004) – Athletics Canada is pleased to announce the national team competing in this year’s North American 5km Challenge Team Championship. This event will take place Sunday, October 24th 2004 in Chula Vista, California (USA). The race uses a cross country scoring format where the first two (of three) runners of each gender for each team score points.

Team members are listed below, along with their age, hometown and personal coach:

Reid Coolsaet, 25, Guelph, ON, Dave Scott-Thomas

Ryan McKenzie, 26, Windsor, ON, Dennis Fairall

Andrew Smith, 25, Waterdown, ON, Eddie Raposo and Paul Poce

Emilie Mondor, 23, Mascouche, QC, Mike Lonergan and Sylvain Lavallée

Tara Quinn, 25, Waterdown, ON, Paul Poce

Malindi Elmore, 24, Calgary, AB, Mike Van Tighem

The team leader and head coach is Marek Jedrzejek of Richmond, BC

The three national teams invited to this event are Canada, Mexico and the United States. As in previous years, the Canadians will be racing against strong opposition. Canada has never won this Team Challenge, but finished second last year and in 1995 and 1996. Team USA won the event last year. Emilie Mondor or Mascouche, QC dominated the women's competition and set a new a course record of 15:23.

The race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will take place along the Chula Vista Harbour waterfront. More information about the event is available at the following website: www.eliteracing.com.