Canadian record holder closes well to pull away from Fafard, captures fifth career 5,000 national championship; Gleadle announces retirement after winning 12th career javelin crown, with DeBues-Stafford, Desgagnes, Lemeille and McCabe also victorious

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Miles Ryan Rowat, Geoff Robins and Sean Burges of Mundo Sport Images 

Moh Ahmed had earned both Olympic and World Athletics Championships medals in the 5,000 meters since the last time he won a national title in the event five years ago.

But Ahmed, the Canadian record holder in the event, showcased a spectacular final kilometer Thursday to secure his fifth career 5,000 national crown at the Bell Track and Field Trials at the Sports Complex of Claude-Robillard in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Ahmed, competing for Nike Bowerman Track Club, clocked 13 minutes, 10.99 seconds to smash the 2000 meet record of 13:25.16 achieved by Sean Kaley, with Thomas Fafard also running faster than the previous standard with a runner-up effort in 13:18.82.

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Fafard led Ahmed by a 7:58.47 to 7:58.64 margin at the 2-kilometer mark, before the 2021 Olympic silver medalist and 2019 World Championships bronze medalist took control during the final two laps.

Ahmed, 33, had won four consecutive Canadian 5,000 titles from 2016-19, but only once eclipsed the 14-minute barrier in those previous championship races.

Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, a four-time women’s 1,500 national champion, captured her first career 5,000 crown in 15:33.50, holding off Briana Scott in 15:34.87.

DeBues-Stafford trailed Scott entering the last lap, before closing with a 64.07-second split to prevail.

Ella Baran of Colorado took third in 15:36.25, just ahead of Northern Arizona’s Gracelyn Larkin in 15:36.41.

Ceili McCabe, the Canadian record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, triumphed in 9:32.97 to secure her second national title in three years.

Regan Yee, a two-time national champion, placed second in 9:42.07, with former Oregon State standout Grace Fetherstonhaugh taking third in 9:43.13 and Jessica Furlan finishing fourth in 9:43.74.

Jean-Simon Desgagnes earned back-to-back Canadian championships in the men’s 3,000 steeplechase by running 8:34.56.

Kevin Robertson was runner-up in 8:37.91 and Aaron Ahl finished third in 8:39.16.

Liz Gleadle won her 12th career women’s javelin national crown with a second-round performance of 195-3 (59.52m), but no other athletes surpassed 170 feet during the competition. Gleadle, a three-time Olympian for Canada, announced her retirement from competition after capturing a dozen titles in a 16-year span.

Maxime Leveille cleared 16-8.75 (5.10m) on his first attempt to triumph in the men’s pole vault final.