Conditions couldn't have been nicer for the fourth annual Whistler Spirit Run on Saturday, Sept. 24 with a rare day of fall sunshine in Sea to Sky.
The turnout was also the biggest yet with over 250 people taking part in both the cross-country run and team relay event.
In the 8K Open Men, University and Masters Division, Kevin O'Connor of Vancouver was first overall in 26:31, averaging a kilometre every three minutes and 19 seconds. David Palermo was second in 28:22, followed by Blair Johnston in 28:43.
The top Whistler runner was Michael Canny, placing 15th overall in 30:45. Ashley McMillan was 17th in 30:56, Brent Murdoch 27th in 36:06, John Decaigny 28th in 36:34, Nathan Uskowski of Squamish 35th in 37:40, Tony Del Bsoco of Whistler 37th in 38:09, Daryl West 43rd in 40:05, William Goldstein 48th in 42:09 and David Foran 49th in 50:18.
In the 6K Open Women, University and Masters, Madeline MacDonald of Calgary average a kilometre every 3:46 to finish in 22:33. She was followed by Alison Jackson in 23:01, and Fiona Benson in 23:11. Whistler's Sarah Colpitts was fifth overall in 23:34. Debbie Welsh was 17th in 28:04, Yoko Ukai was 21st in 28:35, Sarah Makowsky was 22nd in 28:47, Nancy Johnson of Pemberton was 30th in 30:21, Carly McMillan of Whistler was 31st in 30:22, Elizabeth Mezzabotta was 33rd in 30:51, Ciara McLoughlin of Squamish was 34th in 31:11, Louise Stanford of Whistler was 37th in 32:35, Kim Huggard was 40th in 33:19, Patricia Tavrou was 45th in 35:04, Sheena Harrington was 51st in 36:38, Maridee Fitch 52nd in 36:44, Kelly Foran 53rd in 37:37, Kara Thornton 55th in 39:32, Kerry Duff 56th in 39:35, Lynn Chappell of Squamish 57th in 39:35, Krista Oster of Whistler 63rd in 52:49, Barb Leigh 68th in 44:04, Kathryn Fox of Squamish 69th in 46:31 and Jodi Escott of Squamish in 53:23.
In the Senior High School Boys 17 and Under 5K, Fred Weaver, Jamie Cruikshank and Sam Morris of West Vancouver were first through third in 18:15, 18:19 and 18:19 by a nose.
In the 4K high school girls' race, Tanya Humeniuk of Vancouver was first in 16:15, followed by Jennifer Wildi in 20:26 and Maya Guttmann in 21:00. Whistler's Nicki Murdoch was fifth in 23:01.
In the Junior High 15 and Under 3K race, Annika Richardson was first in 12:39, followed by Emily Handford in 13:38 and Camilla Smith in 14:41.
Whistler's Ilya Nordin was eighth in 16:00.
For the boys, Colin Mitchell of Vancouver was first in 11:05, followed by Kieran Lumb in 11:10 and Sim Kayden in 11:23. Whistler's Tyler Welsh was fourth in 11:52 and Alexander Valentin seventh in 12:41.
In the elementary school category for kids 12 and under, Danielle Steer of Surrey was the top female on the two kilometre course in 7:57, followed by Nina Watson of Vancouver in 8:55 and Emma Rastad of West Vancouver in 8:56.
Linnea Uunila of Squamish was 14th in 11:17 and Eva Valentin of Whistler 20th in 14:27.
For the boys, Whistler's Nolan Welsh was first in 8:13, followed by Pemberton's Joe Davies in 8:30 and Whistler's Michael Murdoch in 8:37. Brayden Smith of Squamish was 13th in 11:01.
In the 4x2km relay, the Crossfit 1 team was first overall with a Adam Harris, Adam Reid, Andrew Kates and Jeremy Fairley finishing in a combined 34:00. The Crossfit 2 team of Jordan Glasser, Amanda Steel, Sophie Garneau and Jo Macalister was second in 37:23. Hershey B - Jerry Tighe, Kai O'Krane, John Fitzgeralf and Russ Jones - was third in 39:35.
In the corporate team challenge, the Pan Pacific - Daryl West, Jim Douglas, Alexis Webb and Nicole Leddy - were first in a combined 39:45.
Team Whistler - John Heilig, Ken Melamed, Daryl Faulkner and Sharon Singh - were second in 43:54 and Mountain FM - Stuart Jordan, Joe Polito, Mike Hewit and Sabrina Pearson - were third in 44:47.
Complete results are at www.raceheadquarters.com.
