Mo Ahmed, Gen Lalonde have an unforgettable, record-breaking day in Oregon
Canadians Mo Ahmed and Geneviève Lalonde set new Canadian records in the men's 5,000m and the women's 3,000m steeplechase on Saturday in Oregon.
Canadians Mo Ahmed and Geneviève Lalonde ran faster than any other Canadians before them in setting new national records at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday. Ahmed, who is based on Oregon as part of the Bowerman Track Club, bettered his Canadian record by nearly 10 seconds with a third place, 13:01.74 finish in the men’s 5,000m.
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Lalonde, a resident of Guelph, Ont. who trains with Speed River, broke the women’s 3,000m steeplechase record, which was previously held by Jessica Furlan (9:33.45), in 9:32.17. She won the bronze medal at the Pan Am Games in Toronto last summer and has represented Canada on the international stage.
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The Nike-sponsored competition is part of the Diamond League, a circuit of world class track and field meets, and is one of the more popular spots on tour. Eugene, specifically Hayward Field, is considered the home of track and field.
.@Moh_Speed NEW ???? CANADIAN RECORD! 13:01 unofficially in the men's 5,000m at the #PreClassic!
— CanadianRunning (@CanadianRunning) May 28, 2016
The meet is named after Steve “Pre” Prefontaine, one of the great distance runners in U.S. athletics history. His coach, Bill Bowerman, is the co-founder of Nike.
Both Ahmed and Lalonde have the Olympic qualifying standard in their respective events and are expected to represent Canada in Rio this summer.
HUGE congrats to @lalongen for setting a NEW ?? record in the women's 3,000m steeplechase with a 9:32.17 clocking at the #PreClassic!
— CanadianRunning (@CanadianRunning) May 28, 2016
All smiles for Mo Ahmed (@Moh_Speed) after a gutsy move for the win & smashing his ?? 5000m record, 13:01.74. pic.twitter.com/FICFnunsuW
— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) May 28, 2016
The competition is still underway as of 5:45 p.m. EDT on May 28.
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