(October 16, 2005) — Petite Emilie Mondor, all 5-foot-6, 115 pounds of her, had just run the fastest 5K by a woman in Rochester, and there she was, bounding around the stage handing out flowers and awards like a TV game show hostess.

"She's something else," is how Allison Carr put it, admiring the Canadian Olympian and the record time she had just posted to win the 10th Run For Hospice 5K road race in Greece Saturday.

"I can't imagine running that fast," said Carr, the reigning Rochester Runner of the Year from West Seneca, who was a distant second in 17:03.

Montreal-area native Mondor, 24, made good on her promise to break 16 minutes. She completed the 3.1 miles in 15:59 and called it "very similar" to the Saturday tempo run she'd be doing if she were back in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. She trains with the elite Team USA Running group there and Olympic bronze medalist Deena Drossin Kastor.

Mondor said it's her fastest 5K this year (her best is a 15:16, set just a year ago), and fastest by a Canadian woman this year.

"I promise to come back next year," she teased in her French-Canadian-accented English, "and start a tradition. I'll break the record by a second. Then the next year by another second. Is that OK?

"Maybe I'll bring Deena with me, too!"

That record-breaking strategy earns an additional $500, on top of the $1,000 first-place prize and another $200 for leading all women at the mile and 2-mile marks.

"If it hadn't rained there the last mile or so I would have run even faster. You have to watch your footing when the road's wet. It gets slippery."

Four guys broke 15 minutes, led by Indiana Invaders miler Hunter Spencer (14:37), who edged defending champion Mark Andrews of Canisteo by five seconds.

But it was clearly Mondor who projected the day's star power.

"She's the real deal," said marathoner Kevin Collins.

Persuaded to run in Rochester by race director Pete Van Peursem, who picked up her air fare from Montreal and provided a room to stay at the Greece Wellesley Inn, Mondor headed back home promising to return as often as she's asked.

She waived her customary $2,000-plus appearance fee because, as she said, "I love the non-elite aspect of racing, the community events where people get all excited about it."

After the men's race, Andrews slipped up to Collins and asked a question:

"I just lost it after two miles, I was so dead. Have you felt that way racing before a marathon?"

Even though Andrews has been training at marathon pace for the Niagara International Marathon a week from today in Niagara Falls, Ontario ($2,500 first place), he was ripped he couldn't put Spencer away in the late stages Saturday.

"I can't believe a 14:37 won $1,000," Andrews said, irked that the Connecticut native outlegged him. "I should have beaten him by 10 seconds, at least." Andrews won last year's Hospice in 14:26.

Collins, who clinched Rochester Runner of the Year with his eighth-place finish, countered Andrews' concern with a "don't worry about it. I ran my best marathons after feeling the same way racing up to them."

Collins has twice run 2:15 marathons.

"You've been doing the same 100-plus miles per week that I used to do," said Collins, who at times would hit 180. "You're not going to have the speed for 5Ks with that kind of training."

Andrews led from the start — though he was second briefly when Fairport's Jeff Beck burst from an eight-man pack into the lead to grab $100 in bonus money at the Mile 1 mark.

"I figured, if they're going to do that," Andrews said, "I'd throw in a surge, too."

Seconds later he stepped back ahead on a downhill and stretched his lead to five seconds over Spencer and Invaders' teammate Ted Turner as they turned east onto English Road.

Turner is the SUNY Geneseo six-time All-American who's been racing with the Indianapolis-based group since spring.

After Andrews clocked mile splits of 4:33 and 4:43, Turner and Spencer closed the gap turning back onto North Greece Road. Andrews was helpless to counter.

"The last mile felt like it was 4:55, at least," Andrews said. "I had nothing."

While Andrews lost out on $500, settling for a $600 second-place check and another $100 for leading at Mile 2, he put a positive spin on it.

"Well, I guess if I can win more than $2,000 next week it's a good tradeoff," he said.

JCASTOR@DemocratandChronicle.com

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