Napier and Paul Win Under Near-Perfect Conditions at 42nd Fool’s Run
Strong showing for locals claiming 3rd overall male and female spots
The 42nd BMO Sunshine Coast April Fool’s Run presented by Eastlink provided near-perfect racing conditions for the nearly 600 participants who ran, walked and relayed their way from Gibsons to Sechelt on Sunday. A pair of Vancouver runners took the top spots: Chris Napier with a personal best of 1:13:50 and Kendal Paul in 1:26:05. Neither has won at this event before.
St Pats 5k — BC 5km Championships
The St Patrick’s Day 5K lived up to its hype as Canada’s most competitive 5K, despite the late withdrawal of several top entrants. Transplanted Scot, Sarah Inglis, broke the Canadian All-Comers record set by Natasha Wodak as last year’s race. Inglis ran a stunning 15:29, with Wodak also 3 seconds under the old mark having to settle for second in 15:36. Wodak’s consolation was an F3539 Canadian record, and the BC Championship.
Event record prize money was also paid out on the men’s side, as John Gay clocked 14:06, the fastest 5K ever seen in BC, also earning him the BC Championship. Justin Kent out-leaned Kieran Lumb for third, both finishing in 14:13, just a second outside the old record set by Luc Bruchet last year.
Provincial 8k Road Running Champions Crowned at Icebreaker 8k
The Steveston Icebreaker 8k was the first event in the Lower Mainland Road Running Series, second in the BC Super Series and also served as the BC Athletics Provincial 8k Road Championship.
For the 371 finishers, the weather couldn’t have cooperated more for the January race, that marks the kick off of the Road Running season in the lower mainland.
Kevin Coffey came out victorious on Sunday, winning the event with a 24:36 and earning the early season Championship belt. With a time of 29:08 and winning the woman’s championship, Andrea Lee of the Fraser Street Run Club sealed the victory.
Hofbauer and Wodak take the wins in the Under Armour Eastside 10K
Reigning Canadian Marathon champion Trevor Hofbauer comfortably won the sixth annual Under Armour Eastside 10K today ahead of a record 3,200 participants. On the Women’s side, it was Natasha Wodak who took her second victory at Eastside.
Nicholson delivers on prediction of winning memorable Squamish Days 8K
Surrey-based Drew Nicholson, making his first appearance at the Squamish Days 8K and Flashback Mile since finishing second five years ago, won the out-and-back, flat-course race in a sizzling 27:28, beating local favourite Shaun Stephens-Whale by 13 seconds in a spirited showdown. Meg Lewis-Schneider of Vancouver, who won the women’s overall title in 28:02, was equally impressive in the warm morning race, finishing 32 seconds ahead of Vancouver’s Darbykai Standrick.
An estimated $970,000 raised for charity at the 2018 Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5k
Kip Kangogo defends his title with 7th win in 10 races
More than 6,700 people took part in the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5k, raising an estimated $970,000 for 70 local charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. This brings the grand total since 2007 to over $8 million. Lethbridge Alberta’s Kip Kangogo cruised to his 7th victory at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon, while Vancouver’s Dayna Pidhoresky had an impressive win over pre race favourite Sasha Gollish.
Koske and Richardson Win 41st Annual Fool’s Run
The 41st annual BMO Sunshine Coast April Fool’s Run presented by Coast Cable attracted nearly 620 registrants from all over BC and beyond, to run and walk from the Gibsons and Area Community Centre to Mission Point Park in Davis Bay. Leading the way were Benard Cheruiyot Koske of Kenya and Paul McNamara of Vancouver, who ran neck and neck until the very end, where Koske sprinted the final 30m in the park to win by 1 second in 1:13:46. On the women’s side, Vancouver’s Laurel Richardson had the strongest run on the day with a 1:24:56 clocking, followed by North Vancouver’s Allison Ezzat in 1:26:49.
Natasha Wodak Blitzes a Canadian All-Comers Record at the St Patrick’s Day 5K
Going into today’s St Patrick’s Day 5K presented by BMO, expectations were high that some records would be broken, and the race sure didn’t disappoint in perfect running conditions. Natasha Wodak ran a blistering quick 15:39, bettering the old record of 15:42 set by Carol Montgomery in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland in 2006. Not to be outdone, Lucas Bruchet also broke his own 2016 course record by 10 seconds, reclaiming the title in 14:12.
Canadian Record Holders to Face Off at St Patrick’s Day 5K
A captivating head-to-head contest between two in-form Canadian record holders will highlight Saturday’s St Patrick’s Day 5K presented by BMO, the 2018 BC 5K Championship and the fourth race in the BC Super Series.
Kent and Pidhoresky Prevail in Windy Conditions to Win BC 8K Championship
Participants had to battle gale force winds along the banks of the Fraser River on Sunday morning, at the Steveston Icebreaker 8K. The out and back course ran into the teeth of the wind for the first 4K, before runners were rewarded with an equally strong tailwind for the return. Thankfully the rain largely held off for the second race in the 2018 BC Super Series, which also served as the BC 8K Championship, and the first race in the Lifestages Lower Mainland Road Race Series.