Posted: March 22, 2005

Athletics: Saskatchewan’s Danette Doetzel 14th at cross country running world championships

March 19, 2005 SAINT-GALMIER, France - Danette Doetzel of Macklin, Sask., posted Canada’s best result Saturday at the African-dominated world cross country running championships on Saturday with a 14th place finish in the junior women’s six kilometer race.

Burika Gelete Bati of Ethiopia took the gold medal in 20 minutes and 12 seconds finishing ahead of three Kenyans. African runners grabbed the top-10 placings.

Doetzel, 42nd last year, clocked 21.41 under unusually hot conditions with temperatures reaching nearly 20 C.

“I was hoping for a top-25 so this is beyond my expectations,” said Doetzel, 18, the Canadian junior champion and Big 10 Conference champion for Michigan State. “I went out strong at the beginning and established where I wanted to be and held that. The weather was a bit of shocker and it had an affect on me. I had flown in from Saskatchewan where it’s still below zero.”

This summer Doetzel plans to focus on the 5,000 metre event on the track. Her main goal is to win the gold medal at the junior nationals in Montreal and at the Canada Games which are scheduled for her home province in Regina.

Other Canadian results: Kate van Buskirk of Brampton, Ont., was 57th in 23:19, Tarah McKay of St. Clements, Ont., was 65th in 23:34, Anita Campbell of Aldergrove, B.C., was 84th in 24:09, Katie Engel of North Gower, B.C., was 90th in 24:27 and Gina Stewart of Antigonish, N.S., was 105th in 25:33 out of 117 entries.

Kenya was first in the team standings and Canada 11th.

In the senior men’s four kilometre race, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia successfully defended his title in 11:33 ahead of two Kenyans.

Veteran Kevin Sullivan of Brantford, Ont., was 21st in 12:13, Reid Coolsaet of Hamilton was 52nd in 12:33, Matthew Kerr of Elora, Ont., was 81st in 12:47, Joel Bourgeois of Grande-Digue, N.B., was 91st in 12:56, Ryan McKenzie of Windsor, Ont., 109th in 13:14 and Matt Johnson of Surrey, B.C., 112th in 13:17 out of 141 entries.

Ethiopia took the team title and Canada was 12th.

In the senior women’s eight kilometre race, Dibaba Tirunesh of Ethiopia was the winner in 26:34.

Tara Quinn-Smith of Waterdown, Ont., was 44th in 29:26, Beth Wightman of Toronto 71st in 31:08, Rosie Mullins of Stirling, Ont., 78th in 31:44, and Shari Boyle of Toronto 81st in 32:10 out of 94.

Ethiopia won the team gold and Canada was 11th.

Source: Athletics Canada.