Black Creek born-and-raised runner Cam Levins has added another record to his collection, smashing a 21-year-old standard at the Royal Victoria Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 8.
Levins posted a time of 1:01:18 - exactly one minute off his Canadian record, and 1:14 better than the long-standing Victoria Marathon record held by three-time Olympian Jon Brown.
Levins was nearly three minutes clear of his closest rival. Trevor Hofbauer of Kelowna finished in 1:04:07, followed by Kip Kangogo of Lethbridge, Alta. in 1:07:46.
Levins said it felt like a hometown crowd in his corner, and indeed it was, as his 94-year-old grandmother, Fern, and his parents, Barb and Gus, all came down from Black Creek to witness his record-breaking day.
And after he could celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with his family - including his 90+ year old grandmother pic.twitter.com/ZCczBq4fh1
— Trent Stellingwerff (@TStellingwerff) October 8, 2023
“I will say, it was great having all those people cheering me on on the way back through,” said Levins. “There were lots of people yelling my name so that was some extra inspiration.”
There were a few age category records that fell on Sunday as well.
Kangogo’s third-place overall was worthy of a new 40-44 age class record of 1:07:46, while Jim Finlayson of Victoria established a provincial and Royal Victoria Half Marathon 50-54 age class record with a 1:11:51.
David Guss of Kelowna also set a new B.C. and Royal Victoria Half Marathon 60-64 age class record with a time of 1:19:15.
Of the 9,069 total registrants, there were 7,442 finishers: 1,444 in the marathon, 3,132 in the half marathon, 1,855 in the 8K, 534 in the 5K and 477 in the Thrifty Foods Kids Run.
-With files from Tami Tate, marketing manager, Royal Victoria Marathon