Posted: February 24, 2005

Athletics: Canada Names 2005 World Cross Country Championship Team

(Ottawa, February 24, 2005) - Athletics Canada is pleased to announce the 35 athletes and eight staff members that will make up this year’s IAAF World Cross Country Championship team. The 33rd World Cross Country Championships will be held March 19th and 20th in Saint-Galmier and Saint-Étienne France.

The team is made up of a variety of runners – junior and senior athletes, middle and long distance runners, and a good mix of proven veterans and Canada’s top up-and-coming stars. The format of the event, where there are up to six athletes in six categories, allows Canada to select the best available athletes from a large pool of runners across the country.

Team Canada’s world cross country team head coach, Martin Goulet is excited about this year’s championships. “As usual, we’re going to world cross with strong expectations, especially with the short course teams. Last year, by winning the bronze medal in the women’s senior short course and finishing sixth in the senior men’s short course, Canada established itself as one of the best in the world in the short cross course, excluding the African nations. It will be tough to repeat or exceed last year’s performance, since other nations will not be taking us lightly and because we’re bringing several new athletes. On the other hand, Kevin Sullivan and Carmen Douma-Hussar will be leading the teams with their proven talent - both of them have had positive starts this season. National team veteran Joel Bourgeois will also add some valuable experience to the team.”

“The world cross country team also provides an excellent opportunity for athletes to share ideas and goals as well as build a sense of unity and confidence,” adds Goulet.

Douma-Hussar and Courtney Inman are both returning to the 2005 event after helping to capture bronze for Canada at last year’s championships in Belgium.

Three of Canada’s top performers from the 2004 world cross country championships, Emilie Mondor, Malindi Elmore and Paul Morrison are passing on this year’s world cross country championships as they are focusing on recovering from injuries sustained in the late fall and winter.

Athletics Canada congratulates the following athletes, coaches and team officials for being named to the 2005 team:

(Name, age, hometown and personal coach)
Junior Men (6)
Jeremy Fisico, 18, Windsor, ON, Chris Scarrow
Jake Gallagher, 18, Bedford, NS, Gary Keddy / Robert Englehutt
Alex Genest, 18, Lac-aux-Sables, QC, Pierre Thibodeau
Braden Novakowski, 18, Kingston, ON, Shane Lakins
Nick Sunseri, 18, Ottawa, ON, Brad Herbster
Chris Winter, 18, Vancouver, BC, Frank Reynolds / Martin Smith
JUNIOR WOMEN (6)
Anita Campbell, 17, Aldergove, BC, Gerry Swan / Sue Northey
Danette Doetzel, 17, Maklin, SK, Steve Gursten
Katie Engel, 17, North Gower, ON, Ray Elrick
Tarah McKay, 17, St. Clements, ON, Peter Grinsberg
Gina Stewart, 17, Antigonish, NS, Bernie Chisholm
Kate Van Buskirk, 17, Brampton, ON, Jim Van Burskirk / Mark Christie
Senior Men Short Course (6)
Joel Bourgeois, 33, Grande Digue, NB, 
Reid Coolsaet, 25, Hamilton, ON, Dave Scott-Thomas
Matt Johnston, 26, Surrey, BC, Gerry Swan / Brit Townsend
Matt Kerr, 28, Elora, ON, Peter Grinsberg
Ryan McKenzie, 26, Windsor, ON, Dennis Fairall
Kevin Sullivan, 30, Brantford, ON, Ron Warhurst
SENIOR WOMEN SHORT COURSE (6)
Carmen Douma-Hussar, 27, Cambridge, ON, Marcus O'Sullivan
Hilary Edmondson, 23, Guelph, ON, Dave Scott-Thomas
Courtney Inman, 25, Vancouver, BC, Brit Townsend
Lisa Labrecque, 28, Sudbury, ON, Dick Moss
Megan Metcalfe, 23, Edmonton, AB, Sean Cleary
Rebecca Stallwood, 26, Burlington, ON, Sean Cleary
Senior Men Long Course (6) 
Brent Corbitt, 24, New Westminister, BC, Mike O'Connor
Eric Gillis, 24, Antigonish, NS, Dave Scott-Thomas
Marcel Hewamudalige, 21, Vancouver, BC, Mike O'Connor
James Nielsen, 25, Pt. Stanley, ON, Paul Poce
Andrew Smith, 25, Toronto, ON, Eddie Raposo
Calvin Staples, 28, Kitchener, ON, Peter Grinsberg
SENIOR WOMEN LONG COURSE (5) 
Shari Boyle, 32, Toronto, ON, Paul Poce
Rosie Mullins, 32, Stirling, ON, Dan Hennigar
Tara Quinn-Smith, 25, Waterdown, ON, Eddie Raposo / Paul Poce
Kristina Rody, 28, Maryhill, ON, Dave Scott-Thomas
Beth Wightman, 23, Toronto, ON, Ross Ristuccia

Team Staff
Head of Delegation, Sean Holman, Etobicoke, ON
Head Coach, Martin Goulet, Montréal, QC
Team Manager, Natalie Muller, Ottawa, ON
Junior Team Coach, Christine Laverty, Calgary, AB
Senior Team Coach, Marek Jedrzejek, Richmond, BC
Team Doctor, Linda Thyer, Vancouver, BC
Physiotherapist, Julie Gardiner, Montréal, QC
Massage Therapist, Frank Manzo, Thornhill, ON