Elite Canadian Women Set to Shine at Ottawa’s Fastest Women 5K on May 3
March 6, 2025, Ottawa – As the world prepares to celebrate International Women’s Day, Run Ottawa is thrilled to announce that three of Canada’s top middle-distance runners—Erin Teschuk, Eliyah Brawdy, and Sadie-Jane Hickson—will be toeing the line at Ottawa’s Fastest Women 5K on May 3, 2025. This women’s-only performance race is part of Run to Empower, a celebration of female strength, resilience, and achievement in the sport of running.
Teschuk, a former Olympian and steeplechase specialist, brings a wealth of experience and a fierce competitive spirit to the event. She has represented Canada at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, and the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
“I am excited to race the Run to Empower women’s only race, right here at home in Ottawa,” says Teschuk. “Opportunities such as these are so important to show the next generation of female athletes that there are opportunities for them to push their limits at the elite level. I hope to use this opportunity to showcase my training and fitness all while further promoting women’s sport.” Teschuk sports a 5K personal best of 15:29 and has medalled at the last two editions of the Canadian 5K Championships.
Brawdy, one of Canada’s rising stars, has been making waves on the national stage with her impressive racing over multiple distances. In 2024, she not only won the Canadian 10,000m Championships in May with a time of 33:37.52, at the Pacific Distance Carnival in Coquitlam, BC, she also took first place at the TCS Toronto Half Marathon finishing in 1:13:34, improving her personal best of 1:20:10 (set in 2022) by nearly seven minutes. Brawdy was most recently 9th at the Houston Marathon in January.
Brawdy shared, “I am excited to run in a women’s only race because I am personally inspired by all of the incredible women that are a part of the Canadian distance running community as both athletes and women! I hope this race can showcase some of that depth and talent while also serving as an inspiration for young girls to pursue big goals as both athletes and individuals.”
A standout on the track, Hickson has competed at national and collegiate levels, consistently delivering strong performances in the 800m and 1500m events. In the autumn, Hickson placed 4th in the Hamilton Marathon Road2Hope 5K, her 5K road debut, finishing with a time of 15:59. Most recently, she set her personal best in the 1,000m with a 2:39.16, which placed her 7th all time in Canada for the indoor 1,000m, ahead of Ottawa’s Melissa Bishop-Nriagu. During her career as a Guelph Gryphon from 2017-2023, Hickson won seven U SPORTS gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals.
“It’s exciting to be a part of an event that is dedicated to celebrating and uplifting women who run,” says Hickson. “I’m thrilled to be in a race that provides a platform for women to showcase their abilities at a high-performance level and will build on the momentum that is driving more and more people to watch and support women’s sports. I hope to serve as a role model for the young people watching, demonstrating the joy, opportunities, and fulfillment that come from sport. I look forward to racing alongside strong competitors, challenging myself, and contributing to an environment that encourages both female excellence and connection.”
“We are thrilled for this year’s event! The exceptional level of athleticism of the women’s elite field will highlight the importance and distinction of women’s running, not only in Ottawa but across Canada, and offer spectators a very exciting race experience,” says Lisa Georges, Run Ottawa’s Marketing and Communications Director, “We invite everyone to come out to watch!”
Run to Empower is an Athletics Canada Road Race Labeled event, designed to foster inclusion and highlight the importance of gender equity in athletics. Events include Ottawa’s Fastest Women, a 5K performance race for women only, the Run to Empower open 5K, an event for athletes of all genders, and the Little Warriors 1K, an open event for all genders, ages 12 and under. New for 2025, a dedicated Stroller Wave will be the first wave to cross the start line of the Run to Empower Open 5K, in an effort to encourage parents to run with their children in a safe and competitive environment for all.
Participant donations will go to Fast and Female, a registered Canadian charity dedicated to empowering girls through sport, physical activity, and education by providing a safe, inclusive environment where they can be themselves while discovering new athletic opportunities.
For more information can be found about the events here: https://www.runottawa.ca/races-and-events/run-to-empower-5k
To register, please visit: https://www.letsdothis.com/ca/e/run-to-empower-238638
Media contact:
Lisa Georges
media@runottawa.ca
Elite athlete contact:
Stephen Andersen
EliteProgram@runottawa.ca
Run Ottawa
Run Ottawa is the National Capital Region’s premiere running event not-for-profit and the organizers of Canada’s most popular multi-day running event, Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. Other races include Richmond Road Races, Run to empower, Canada Day Road Race, Farm 5/15, Great Big Cookie Run, and the Grit and Grind Trail Race. www.runottawa.ca
Athletics Canada
Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for track and field, para athletics, cross-country, and road, mountain, and trail running. Its purpose is to support high performance athletics excellence at the world level, and to provide leadership in developmental athletics. Athletics Canada is a not for profit, charitable organization operating under a board of directors elected by provincial / territorial members. https://athletics.ca/
Fast and Female
Fast and Female is a registered Canadian charity on a mission to empower girls through sport, physical activity, and education. Through an evidence-based curriculum crafted by industry leaders, they are on a mission to empower girls aged 8-20, strengthening their confidence and leadership skills. Their events and programs (in-person and virtual) are developed in collaboration with community partners and like-minded individuals who share our vision.
Fast and Female strives to create a vibrant and inclusive environment where every girl can thrive, regardless of her background or circumstance. For more information: https://fastandfemale.com/
Teschuk photo credit: Kosuke