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Whistler runners on top in Squamish Classic

Bad weather kept the numbers down for the 28th annual Squamish Fall Classic Road Run on Sunday, but almost 50 runners braved the cold and the wind to tackle 10K and 5K courses.

Squamish junior Brendan Rosser, from Howe Sound Secondary, finished at the front of the pack, crossing the 10K line in 36 minutes and 12 seconds while running in the 19 and Under category.

He was followed closely by Mount Currie’s Sean Wolfe, one of the top masters trail runners in the province, who finished the race in 36:24.

Whistler’s Dave Burch, better known for cross-country and downhill mountain biking, finished third in 38:43 while winning the 20 to 29 age group – not bad for a guy who only started running in September.

"I ran in high school and picked up again," he said. "It was getting near the end of the mountain bike season and I was ready for something new. I was back in Ontario with my girlfriend and another friend and we did the Terry Fox 10K run, and they basically kicked my ass. I had to show them that I could actually run a 10K."

Burch said he put some kilometres in and improved in a hurry. He was in the lead in the Lumpy’s Epic run in Pemberton in October, but took a wrong turn. "I got a lot faster but I’m still kind of dumb," he joked.

Burch’s goal is to cut more than two minutes off his 10K time next year and keep racing.

Whistler’s Jody Parry was fourth overall and first in the 30 to 39 category in 39:43.

Squamish runner Teresa Hoivik was the top female runner, finishing fifth overall and first in the 20 to 29 group in 41:21.

Fellow Howe Sounder Anea Cameron was second among women, first in the 40 to 49 age category and sixth overall with her time of 42:06. She was followed by Judy Riddle of Garibaldi Highlands, also in the 40 to 49 category, in 44:26.

Other Whistler runners included:

Michael Jones was eighth overall and second in the men’s 20 to 29 group in 44:47.

Paul Harrington was 11 th overall and third in the 40 to 49 group in 47:33.

Megan Wastle was 14 th and the first woman in the 30 to 39 age group in 48:35.

In the 5K race, elementary school student Ian Kelly was the fastest runner in 23:44, followed by 40 and Up runner Ron Rosser who was one second behind. High school student Kyle James was third in 24:56.

Among the women, Sherry Rosser was fourth overall racing in the 40 and Up group, finishing in 26:22. High school student Kristi Borsoff was second in 27:22, and Aimee Mahnger third in the Open Group (ages 18 to 39) in 30 minutes even.