Comox Valley runners had a strong showing at the Royal Victoria Marathon on Thanksgiving weekend.
Local racers joined 12,000 athletes from throughout the province and beyond for the event, racing in events ranging from five kilometre, eight kilometre, half-marathon (21 km) and marathon (42 km) distances.
Comox Valley runners were well represented in all of the races, and had numerous podium finishes and personal bests. Local marathoners were lead by fast rising star Dan Wilson who overcame injury to set a personal best running 3:05:18 for a fourth place finish in his category. Wilson was followed closely by by Nick Samsom who had a very impressive debut marathon running 3:08:49. Laura Weston took sixth in the women's 30-35 category, finishing 10th place overall. Leon Heath beat his personal best by over an hour, running a 3:17:21. Heath also just beat Kent Duncan, who ran a 3:18:55 and placed third in his category (men, 55-59). Not to be outdone, Neil Collins also had a huge PR chopping over 15 minutes off of his best to run 3:47:07. And Janet Green completed her 31st Royal Victoria Marathon and took fourth in the women, 70-74 category.
For half-marathon runners, Roslyn Smith crushed the course record for her age group, and just missed the Canadian Record for women aged 75-79. Her time was 1:48:59. Derek Brenchley also took down the course record for men aged 65-69, with his time of 1:29:46. Other podium finishers were Rob Kelly in first for men, 60-64 (1:26:02), Andrea Wilson second women, 45-49 (1:26:46), Wayne Crowe second men, 65-69 (1:39:18), Stephan Smit third men 40-44 (1:17:03), Rachel Deline fourth women 30-34(1:27:36), Jordan Brietkze fifth men 35-40 (1:18:56), and Gord Harris fifth men 70-74 (1:53:03).
In the eight kilometre race, Janelle Hanna was the top local finisher with a time of 33:29 and seventh place in the very competitive women's 25-29 age group. She was followed very closely by the mother daughter duo of Colleen and Avery Schmidt, who raced each other to the finish with Avery just nudging her mother out with a time of 33:39 and first place women's under 13 while Colleen ran 33:46 for first place in women 45-49. Amelia Moore took the crown for women 13-15 in 35:17.
There were many other outstanding performances on the weekend which are too numerous to number. In the Half Marathon these included new a personal record and sixth place women 45-49 finish of 1:37:11 for Marion Bryan and 1:44:16 and seventh women 50-54 for Nikki Wilson as well as a solid race and near personal record of 1:35:52 by Alex Du Boulay. Other standout races included Jesse Blades and Yuri Rashkovskii running their first marathons in 3:30:40 and 3:35:34.
"No matter what their placing all runners showed great determination just to reach the start line and the courage to push themselves through to the finish," a release from Comox Valley Road Runners says. "They all deserve a huge congratulations for taking on the challenge."
The top finishers in the various races hailed from throughout the province. The overall winners in the marathon were Craig McMillan finishing in 2:28:51 and Zoe Hamel in 2:47:48. In the half marathon Andrew Davies and Makenna Fitzgerald took home the wins in 1:03:09 and 1:14:20. Top eight kilometre finishers were Aaron Ahl in 23:48 and Julia Hawkins in 28:06. The five kilometre champions were Russell Pearson and Chantal Abbot with excellent times of 15:30 and 18:37.
