Canada Day doesn’t usually evoke thoughts of shivering under cloudy skies, but those conditions did not deter over 200 runners who streamed down Fifth Street ahead of the parade in their reds and whites as part of the annual Canada Day 5th Street Mile road race, organized by the Comox Valley Road Runners.
Local track star Cam Levins led the pack in the one-mile-long course to break four minutes for the third year in a row. He set an amazing course record of 3:58. Behind Levins were Adam Commandeur, Scott Commandeur, Robin Poirier, Neil Holm, Vince Brotherston, Kyle Johnson and Brad Crowe, all finishing under five minutes. Leading the ladies, Elizabeth Butler finished 10th overall in a time of 5:16.
Top three age category finishers were:
Over 20 males: Cam Levins 3:58; Robin Poirier 4:34; Neil Holm 4:35
Over 20 females: Elizabeth Butler 5:16; Elita Rohn 5:20; Karen Argyle 6:09
15-19 males: Adam Commandeur 4:27; Scott Commandeur 4:29; Kyle Johnson 4:54
15-19 females: Grace Howard 6:03; Michaela Ashlee 6:19; Gabriela Kosonen
10-14 males: Peter Gledhill 5:31; Carson Moyers 5:32; Torin Halvorson 5:37
10-14 females: Jessica Kosonen 5:44; Chloe Gummer 5:51; Jordyn Piercy 5:53
0-9 males: Stephen Lamon; Joshua Kalhous; Luke Yeo
0-9 females: Lauren Lineger; Jamie Grinder; Sequoia Bridges
The Comox Valley Road Runners thanked event sponsors including the City of Courtenay and the July 1st Committee, the Comox Valley Cycling Club, Extreme Runners, Jim Smiley at ReMax/Ocean Pacific Realty, Quality Foods and Thrifty Foods.
The next local road race is the Nautical Days 4-Miler on BC Day (Aug. 1) in Comox. Go to cvrr.ca for more info.