There was another capacity crowd for the annual Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver this past Sunday, as more than 56,000 runners took to the streets to finish a 10 km course. As always the field included everyone from professional international runners to people who spent months training for their first organized race.
Times were fast this year. Willy Kimosop of Kenya was the fastest runner in 29 minutes and four seconds, while Abebu Gelan of Ethiopia won the women's race in 34:04. Top Canadians were Dylan Wykes of Ontario in 29:12, placing second overall, and Chantell Widney of Edmonton in 34:24, also second overall.
It was a good day for 91 Whistler and 23 Pemberton runners that took part. Whistler's Kristina Rody placed fourth among women in 34:28, averaging around 17.4 km/h to win $1,000. James Hustvedt, who lives in North Vancouver but spends time in Whistler to cross-country ski, won the quad men's wheelchair division in 41:39.
In the age categories, Whistler trainer John Blok placed 279 th overall, in the top 0.5 per cent of runners, with his time of 39:05. He was also 10 th out of 1,319 runners in the men's 50 to 54 age group.
Joe Michi was wasn't too far behind in 377 th place, breaking the 40-minute barrier with a time of 39:51. He was also 83 rd out of 2,606 runners in the men's 25 to 29 age group.
Chris Devling, an Australian working for Pique Newsmagazine, placed 466 th overall in his first ever road race in 40:40, as well as 70 th out of 1,881 runners in the 19 to 24 age category. Until about eight weeks ago he never ran or jogged, and the only competition he raced in was a three kilometre cross-country race in high school.
"I was inspired by my Whistler friends and the active lifestyle up here," he said.
He overdid his training a little bit, and pulled his calf a few weeks before the Sun Run. He felt better heading into the race, but made another rookie mistake of going out a little too fast.
"I went pretty hard from the start and did the first three kilometres in 11 minutes," he said. "At about six kilometres I felt a twinge in my calf and slowed down for the last four km."
Devling says he has learned about pacing, and will change his strategy when he attempts the half marathon in Vancouver in May. He also plans to run the Whistler Valley Trail Run on May 24 and the 25 km Comfortably Numb Trail Run on June 27.
In the men's Under 16 race Jonny Hutchison was 640 th out of 1,928 runners in 1:02:14. Riel Tetreault of Pemberton was 1,552 in 1:36:32, while Isaac Tetreault was 1674 th in 1:44:55.
In men's 19 to 24 Joel Roberts finished in 44:15, 163 rd in 19 to 24 age category. Greg Holland was 322 nd in 47:55, and Albert Kurniadi 614 th in 53:28. In the female group Laura Pulleyblank was 1,120 th out of 2,839 runners in 1:07:22, with Terry Gercovich 1,423 rd in 1:12:03.
In men's 25 to 29, Mark Schmidt was 416 th in 47:18, Rob Brandth 1,437 th in 59:19, Spencer Martin 1,716 th in 1:04:05, Keenan Deringer 1,768 th in 1:05:09 and Yuki Asakura 2,142 nd in 1:16:58. From Pemberton, Daniel Cindric was 982 nd in 54:17 and James Shaw 1,389 th in 58:37.
In the female group, Erin Donnelly was 66 th out of 3,685 runners in 46:07, Carolyn Donnelly was 86 th in 47:04, Liz Cullen 95 th in 47:17, Lindsey Ataya 149 th 49:25, Lynn Delaurier 559 th in 56:26, Laura Atkinson 1,052 nd in 1:01:19, Aimee Decaigny 1,147 th in 1:02:20, Meredith Bodell 1,889 th in 1:10:22, Emma Gibbs 2018 th in 1:12:03, Suzy Downing 2,058 th in 1:12:33, Andrea Kirkpatrick 2,143 rd in 1:13:55 and Kary Allen 2,455 th in 1:18:56. From Pemberton, Marie-Clare Hopwood was 698 th in 57:54, Stephanie Vanditzhuyzen 1,299 th in 1:03:58, Katharine Adam 1,300 th in 1:03:59, and Hilary Mockler 2,391 st in 1:17:41.
In men's 30 to 34, Tony Medd was 1,388 th out of 2,199 runners in 1:03:48. Karl Goodwin of Pemberton was 700 th in 53:13.
Angela Shoniker was 47 th out of 2,686 runners on the women's side in 47:10, Mary Ann Graebling was 480 th in 58:09, Erin Kennedy was 536 th in 59:01, Sumire Aoshima was 1,158 th in 1:07:22, Jill Gotto was 1,200 th in 1:07:52, Takako Nakayma was 1,662 nd in 1:17:01. Pemberton's Carlee Howell was 258 th in 54:25, Vanessa Liston 266 th in 54:39, Jennifer Prescott 547 th in 59:11, Daile Smith 959 th in 1:04:43, Kara Walker 1,228 th in 1:08:18.
In men's 35 to 39 Ben Thomas was 104 th out of 1,969 runners in 42:56, as well as 894 th overall. Dean Cote was 145 th in 44:09, Scott Brammer was 260 th in 47:19, Brandon Mitchell 654 th in 54:40, Glen Scutt 824 th in 56:56, and Shawn Dopierala 1,287 th in 1:05:49. Sheldon Tetreault of Pemberton was 1,807 th in 1:44:55.
On the women's side Jodi Westbury was 235 th in 55:28, Jodi Arron 286 th in 56:33, Luane Lowdon 860 th in 1:06:48, Victoria Verpoorte 1,507 th in 1:22:16, and Fiona Minton 2,136 th in 1:55:37. Barb Mares of Pemberton was 140 th in 52:45, Christine Blake 862 nd in 1:06:49, Bernadette Ouellet 1,050 th in 1:10:13 and Harriet Vanwart 1,816 th in 1:36:32.
In men's 40 to 44 Garth Wardle was 380 th out of 1,670 racers in 51:27, Jay Southall was 640 th in 56:41, David Foran 773 rd in 59:41 and Kevin Smith 1,024 th in 1:06:33.
In women's 40 to 44 Nancy MacConnachie placed 22 nd out of 2,210 runners in 45:11, Elizabeth Rogerson was 117 th in 53:01, Sonia Mahoney 129 th in 53:31, Annie Piche 698 th in 1:06:33, Lena Martin 970 th in 1:12:10, and Jennifer O'Rourke 1,080 th in 1:14:38. Pemberton's Tammi Bell was 338 th in 59:06, Camille Keep was 641 st in 1:05:34.
In Men's 45 to 49 Jorge Alvarez was 324 th out of 1,690 runners in 51:39 and Michael Hutchison 906 th in 1:04:21.
Rachel Lythe was 219 th in the women's race in 58:51, Dori Faulkner was 252 nd in 59:29, Diana Lyons 307 th in 1:01:01. Joanna Vlahovich of Pemberton was 147 th in 56:28, Renee Howell 514 th in 1:05:34.
In 50 to 54, Walter Wallgram was 33 rd in 41:57, as well as 681 st overall. William Roberts was 628 th in 1:03:27 and Gordon Dyson 963 rd in 1:21:09.
In female 50 to 54 Grace Blok was 41 st out of 1,797 runners in 52:49, Cathy Jewett 319 th in 1:04:23, Libby McKeever 657 th in 1:15:35. From Pemberton, Susan Hellevang was 589 th in 1:13:02.
In 55 to 59 Clive Hamdorff was 612 th in 1:16:15. Lee Bennett was 59 th on the women's side in 58:39, Jill Jacques 72 nd in 59:36.
Rick Valleau was 34 th out of 601 racers in the men's 60 to 64 in 49:33, with Patrick McCurdy 42 nd in 50:40. Cecile Valleau was 90 th in 1:06:30, Margaret Pallot 480 th in 1:49:48.
Complete results are at www.raceheadquarters.com.
