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Moh Ahmed, Gabriela DeBues-Stafford win 5,000m races at track and field trials | CBC Sports

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Moh Ahmed, Gabriela DeBues-Stafford win 5,000m races at track and field trials | CBC Sports

Moh Ahmed won the men’s 5,000-metre race and Gabriela Debues-Stafford finished first in the women’s competition Thursday night at the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic track and field trials.

Ahmed, a four-time Olympian from St. Catharines, Ont., finished in 13 minutes 10.99 seconds at Claude-Robillard sports complex in Montreal.

“I tried pushing it a little bit, but maybe I went a little too hard,” Ahmed said. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I got really jazzed up for this one. I hadn’t competed at the Canadian championships since 2019 and it’s always good to be back home.”

Toronto native DeBues-Stafford was victorious in 15:33.50.

WATCH | CBC Sports recaps Day 2 of national athletics trials in Montreal:

Moh Ahmed qualifies for 4th Olympics on Day 2 of athletics trials

Mohammad Ahmed put on a world-class show in the men’s 5,000-metre to qualify for Paris. In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, Ceili McCabe is also headed to the Olympics, while Nate Riech will head to his second Paralympics looking to defend his T38 1,500m title. All this and more in your Athletics North distance night recap.

Vancouver’s Ceili McCabe finished first in the women’s 3,000 steeplechase final (9:32.97) to secure a spot at the Summer Games next month in Paris. Quebec City native Jean-Simon Desgagnés won the men’s competition in 8:34.56.

“I’m really excited I think it’s a great opportunity that not everyone gets to have,” McCabe said. “I’m going to try to make the most of it over the next month to prepare.”

Vancouver’s Liz Gleadle took the women’s javelin with a throw of 59.52 metres. Maxime Leveille of Shefford, Que., took the top spot in the men’s pole vault at 5.10 metres.

Riech runs way to Paris

Victoria native and defending Paralympic champion Nate Riech met the qualification standard in his T38 1,500 win with a time of 4:09.84.

Paris will mark Riech’s second Paralympic appearance.

“It feels great. At the end of the day, I got the job done and I need to continue to get fit and I just need to sharpen some things up,” Riech said. “Hey, world. Let’s get it going. Let’s run the gauntlet. I welcome all comers and I look forward to challenging myself.”

Speed night awaits on Friday during Day 3 of trials, as six-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse of Markham, Ont., headlines the men’s 100m field while local favourite Audrey Leduc of Gatineau, Que., highlights the women’s event. The men’s final will be the last competition of the day.

Reigning Olympic champion decathlete Damian Warner of London, Ont., will compete in the men’s 400 semifinal, one of his three events at trials this week. World champion Marco Arop of Edmonton begins defence of his Canadian 800 title in the semifinals.

In field competition, world silver medallist Sarah Mitton of Brooklyn, N.S., goes for gold in shot put.

The day will also feature finals in women’s pole vault, men’s high jump and men’s discus.

The trials continue through Sunday. The Paris Games begin July 26.

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