Posted: October 17, 2005

Athletics: Teams Set for North American 5K Team Championship at Arturo Barrios Invitational

Rivalry even at one win each entering 2005 race

CHULA VISTA, Calif. - (Oct. 14, 2005) - The Arturo Barrios Invitational celebrates its 17th edition in spectacular fashion with a series of races for the whole family and a fiercely competitive elite field for the North American 5K Team Championship. The races and surrounding festivities take place Sunday, Oct. 23 at the Chula Vista Marina.

The North American 5K Team Championship, in its fourth year as the feature event at the Arturo Barrios Invitational, is a unique competition in which elite men's and women's teams from the United States, Mexico and Canada vie for the title of fastest country in North America. The rivalry is tied at one win apiece; Mexico won in 2002, the USA in 2003 and Canada last year.

Each squad is competing for a $25,000 prize purse that includes $21,000 in team prize money and a $4000 individual purse. The winning team is calculated using a cross country low scoring format.

Canada returns as the defending champion thanks to a strong 1-2 women's finish by Olympians Emilie Mondor and Malindi Elmore. Mondor, 24, leads Canada as the defending champion in the women's race. Hailing from Quebec, she has literally overpowered the women's field in the event's three-year history, averaging an 11-second lead over her closest competition. Over the past three years, Mondor has set two course records in Chula Vista, including the current mark of 15:16 for the 3.1-mile race. Also returning with Team Canada is Reid Coolsaet, 26, whose third place men's finish helped secure last year's Canadian win.

Victorious in 2003, the United States utilized a consistent finish strategy for the team's first North American title. In 2004, the American team struggled against the Canadians. Their 5-7 men's score and 3-4 women's finishes only mustered 19 points, three behind the 2002 Mexican champions.

This year, the United States' chance at gold is fueled by former Stanford University standout Lauren Fleshman. Fleshman, 24, a Team Running USA athlete, led the USA to the bronze medal at the World Cross Country 4K Championships last March and finished second at the 2005 USA Outdoor 5000m Championships in June. The men should score well for Team USA with an even blend of youth and experience. A member of the 2003 U.S. World Cross Country Team, 23-year-old Ian Connor will supply valuable speed and experience to the men's group.

For the first time since 2003, 24-year-old Alejandro Suarez will be missing from Team Mexico's roster. Suarez has been the team's anchor as the top overall men's finisher for the past two years. However, Mexico has sent two members of the victorious 2002 team in hopes of a repeat performance. David Galvan, 32, beat the men's field in a time of 13:47 to initiate the team's lead. Teodoro Vega, 29 returns from '02 along with 22-year-old newcomer Juan Luis Barrios who has the speed to take top marks. Gisel Bautista, 27, the 2004 Mexican 5000m national champion, leads the women's side.

For more information about the Arturo Barrios Invitational, contact Elite Racing at (858) 450-6510 or visit EliteRacing.com.

2005 North American 5K Championship Teams
Note: (t) = Track

USA
NAME / AGE / HOMETOWN / PR / COMMENT
Women

Men
Ian Connor, 25, Lenoir, NC 13:43 2003 U.S. World Cross Country team
Fernando Cabada, 23, Bristol, VA 13:50 2005 NAIA 5000/10,000 meter champion
Peter Julian, 34, Boulder, CO 13:33 6th 2005 USA 5K Championship

Coach: Mark Coogan

CANADA
Women
Megan Metcalf, 23, Edmonton 15:45.15 (t) 2005 NCAA 5000m champion
Emilie Mondor, 24, Montreal 14:59.68 (t) 2004 North American 5K Team individual champion
Tara Quinn-Smith, 26, Hamilton 32:43.54 (10,000m) 2005 Canadian Half-Marathon champion

Men
Paul Morrison, 25, Montreal 13:26.57 (t) 5th 2005 CVS/pharmacy Downtown 5K
Matthew Kerr, 29, Fergus 8:20.12 (3000m) (t) 2005 Canadian 3000m champion
Reid Coolsaet, 26, Hamilton 13:23.30 (t) 1st 2005 Canadian Championship 5000m

Coach: Mike Van Tighem

MEXICO
Women
Maria Elena Valencia, 22, Mexico City 17:05.90 (t)
Gisel Bautista, 27, Zacatecas 16:33.06 (t) 2004 5000m national champion
Leticia Acosta, 29, Monclova 17:14.00 (t)

Men
David Galvan, 32, Cuatro Cienegas 13:27.99 (T) 1st 2002 North American 5K Team Champs
Teodoro Vega, 29, Estado de Mexico 13:22.40 (T) 2003 Pan American Games 10,000m gold medalist
Juan Luis Barrios, 22, Mexico City 13:38.15 (T) 2nd 2005 Galatletica Banamex 5000m

Coach: Rafael Martinez, Guillermo Estrada

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.