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Bandits Elite to go head to head at Toronto Waterfront 10K

The Bandits are the reigning national cross-country team champions and one of the fastest groups in Canada

Bandits Elite, a high-performance track club out of London, Ont., will compete against one another for the first time at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon 10K. The elite Bandits that are confirmed to toe the start line are Canadian 5,000m champion Mike Tate, Phil Parrot-Migas,Connor Black, Jack Sheffar,Josh Lumani, Shawn Master and Jeremy Coughler.

Mike Tate and Connor Black in the men’s 5,000m at the 2021 Olympic and Paralympic Trials in Montreal. Photo:

Although the Bandits have raced individually across North America during the pandemic, this race will mark the first time they will be competing against one another. Over the past year, the Bandits have become stronger, as they have gained two post-NCAA elite runners in Tate and Coughler. The last time the team competed against one another was on the indoor track at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston, Mass., where Black placed second in the 5,000m in February of 2020.

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The team completed together virtually at the Athletics Canada 42K Relay Challenge in October of last year, which was a part of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. The Bandits won with a time of 2:09:01, with all four athletes running under 33 minutes for each 10.55K leg. With the return of in-person racing, the group is eager to tackle the upcoming 10K. 

U Sports 3,000m
Bandits teammates Jack Sheffar and Connor Black racing against one another in university. Photo: U Sports

“Always excited to race in person, especially now,” says Tate. “I’m excited to test ourselves against some of the best runners in Canada.” Currently, the Bandits are training together three to five days per week. Tate is confident that the team will be ready for the Canadian 10K Championships on Oct. 17.

RELATED: The Dunfee brothers to battle at Toronto’s Scotiabank Waterfront 10K

The Bandits are more than just teammates and training partners – they are post-collegiate athletes and friends who love to spend time together. Most of the guys on the team are currently roommates, which has had a tremendous impact on making the group stronger and building the dynamic. The Bandits are the reigning Canadian national cross-country team champions and are determined to repeat this year.

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