TC10K features Strong Elite Athlete Field

The TC10K will see a strong elite athlete field participating on Sunday April 29. The 2011 champion Willy Kimosop will be competing – he won also in 2009 and came second in 2010 – as will the 2010 champion Kip Kangogo. Philip Samoei, the 2010 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon winner, will also run. The women’s field will see three of last year’s top five finishers – Natasha Wodak, Lisa Harvey and Lucy Smith.

Kimosop has set a goal time of 29 min this year which is achievable if the weather conditions are favourable. His time in 2009 was 29:29 (his PB is 28:54). Kangogo – who ran in 29:35 in 2010 – is having a very good year, placing first in Harry’s Spring Run-Off 8K, and 2^nd in the Vancouver Sun Run. Samoei’s best 10K time is 28:05, faster than the course record of 28:47 set by Simon Chenowua in 1995.

The men’s top 10 also includes Joseph Gray from theU.S.,Newfoundland’s Colin Fewer, andVancouver Islandrunners Mark Cryderman and Kris Swanson. The masters field could see an exciting battle between three-time TC10K winner Bruce Deacon, 2011 Island Series silver medalist Craig Odermatt, and Kevin O’Connor who wants to beat the over-45 Canadian road record of 31:19.

The women’s field is equally competitive with the 2011 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon course record hold, Natasha Fraser the top seed. She was second in the TC10K last year in 34:20. Calgary’s Lisa Harvey is back, fresh off her win in the St. Patrick’s Day 10K in Calgaryand the Harry’s Spring Run-Off 8K in Vancouver. Victoria’s Lucy Smith – six-time winner of the TC10K – was 1^st in the Harriers Pioneer 8K in January. Marilyn Arsenault won the masters women title at this year’s Vancouver Sun Run. Other top 10 contenders include Melissa Ross, triathlete Lisa Mensink, Catrin Jones and Claire Morgan.  

In the wheelchair category three-time Paralympic Gold Medalist Michelle Stilwell will be competing. A dominating force in the T52 wheelchair classification, she holds World Records in the 100m, 200m and 400m events and is a strong Gold medal contender for the London Paralympic Games.

The TC10K is Canada’s second largest 10-kilometre race. At close of online registration on Wednesday April 25, 12,147 had registered. Individuals can still register at Race Package Pick up from noon – 5 pm Friday April 27, and 10 am – 6 pm on Saturday April 28 at the Race Expo at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resport. For more information see: www.tc10k.ca.

Close battles expected for men’s and women’s titles at the 35th BMO Sunshine Coast April Fool’s Run

The battle for top spots and cash prizes should be an exciting one at this year’s BMO Sunshine Coast April Fool’s Run presented by Coast Cable, set for Sunday April 1^st.  In both the men’s and women’s fields the top contenders are quite evenly matched, while a couple of top locals may also have a shot at the podium.

On the men’s side, multi-time top local Shaun Stephens-Whale of Roberts Creek is expected to be in the lead pack with last year’s 2^nd and 4^th place winners David Palermo of Vancouver and Drew Nicholson of Surrey, along with 2007 & 2009 winner Graeme Wilson of Vancouver. Whether UBC graduate and former varsity team member Stephens-Whale can stay with them is the question. His best half is 1:13:33 while the other three have all run in the 1:10-1:12 range in the past 12 months – but a big PB is very possible for this 22-year-old who has had big breakthroughs in the past, and he has the home-town advantage: the family home is at the 15k mark.

Wilson is the favourite to win the Masters 40+ division, but the chase for the new 2^nd and 3^rd place prize money will likely unfold between Vancouver Falcons (VFAC) teammates Mark Bennett and Mike Palichuk.

The women’s race is shaping up to be a close match between Langley’s Lisa Brooking, Vancouver’s Kristin Smart and triathlete Gillian Clayton of Vancouver. Though Brooking has the best half-marathon personal best (PB) of the bunch at 1:20:36, Smart ran a breakthrough 2:49 marathon in December and has been zipping off shorter distance PB’s regularly this year, including a 1:22:20 “First Half” Half Marathon. Clayton, whose half-marathon PB is 1:23:06, was the top non-pro woman (5^th overall) at last August’s Ironman Canada Triathlon in Penticton, blasting through the field in the marathon portion with an even split 3:14 on an extremely hot day; and she recently finished a stride ahead of Smart in 18:22 at the BMO St. Patrick’s Day 5k in Vancouver. Brooking was just 4s ahead of both women in the same 5k.

Local favourite Kimberley Doerksen won’t be far behind the leaders this year, having recently run a new PB of 1:25:49 at the Disney Princess Half Marathon, a significant improvement over her 1:27:53 at last year’s Fool’s Run.

The Masters Women’s 40+ race will be a familiar scene, with another pair of VFAC teammates going head to head again as they did in 2009 – Rebecca Reid and Helen Ritchie.

Start time is 9:00am Sunday from the Gibsons & Area Community Centre, with an early start for walkers and 3hr+ runners at 8:00am. Online registration is closed but in-person registration is available during package pickup on Thursday 12-6pm at Forerunners North Vancouver, and Saturday 2-6pm and Sunday 7:30-8:30am at the Gibsons Community Centre.

The 35^th anniversary edition features a new finish line at Mission Point Park, a free children’s run sponsored by Pastimes, a newly designed finisher medal, hot food at the finish line, enhanced volunteer support from BMO, and a grand draw prize weekend getaway at Painted Boat Resort Spa & Marina. The BMO April Fool’s Run is race #4 in the 2012 Lower Mainland Road Race Series. See www.foolsrun.com for details.

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Goes LIVE on CBC

Scotiabank, Toronto Tourism and Canada Running Series are delighted to announce a partnership with CBC to provide live broadcast of this year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, taking place Sunday, October 16th.

The CBC broadcast of Canada’s premiere running event live will put a worldwide spotlight on Toronto and athletics in Canada plus goes even further to cement the STWM as a leading sporting event on both a national and international stage.

Broadcast Schedule:

• Live TV starts at 8:30 am ET, October 16th, on CBC’s digital channel BOLD.
• Live web streaming will be available on www.cbcsports.ca until 2pm.
• Later the same day at 3.00pm local times, a highlights program will run on CBC [main channel, national network], including special features and stories on the Canadian professional athletes’ pursuit of the Olympic qualifying standard.

CBC’s Scott Russell will host, with international distance racing expert and analyst Tim Hutchings joining the team to present a full day of racing broadcasts.

Vancouver’s Dylan Wykes will be chasing an Olympic qualifying time (2:11:29), having won the California International Marathon in 2:12:39 last December.

But he won’t be the only BC athlete competing. Dylan’s training partner, Steve Osaduik, with a 2:16:49 PB is entered. So too is Dylan Gant, who will be making his marathon debut. And Kevin O’Connor will be looking to win the masters competition.

On the women’s side, Katherine Moore will be looking to repeat as the top Canadian, having run 2:47:44 at STWM last year. And Teresa Nightingale will be challenging for top master honours.

Good luck to all.

T-Bird squads among top 10 in pre-season polls

The UBC Thunderbirds cross country teams both earned spots in the top 10 of the 2011 NAIA Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Polls. The men, who finished 2010 at no. 15, jumped all the way to no. 5 while the women are at no. 6, after finishing last year at no. 9.

MEN
Reigning national champion Southern Oregon landed at No. 1 in the 2011 NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Wednesday. Powered behind 15 of 18 possible first-place votes, the Raiders racked up 496 points to garner their first-ever preseason No. 1-ranking.

Wayland Baptist (Texas) was awarded a pair of first-place nods for 480 points to earn the No. 2-ranking, followed by third-ranked Oklahoma Christian with 453 points. Shorter (Ga.) picked up the final first-place vote to total 447 points and check in at No. 4. It is the first top-five rating for the Hawks, whose highest previous ranking was ninth in the 2009 preseason announcement. For the second-consecutive year, British Columbia begins its campaign ranked fifth with 432 points.

WOMEN
Two-time defending national champion Cal State San Marcos landed at No. 1 in the 2011 NAIA Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Wednesday. The Cougars were awarded 16 of 18 possible first-place votes for 497 points. It is the first time dating back to 1999 that the Cougars will begin their season at No. 1.

UBC opens their season in Seattle, WA, at the Sundodger Invitational, hosted by the University of Washington, on Saturday, September 17.

BC Athletics Championships Jamboree this weekend

Most of the BC representatives at the recent World Youth Championships, and the Canadian Senior and Junior Championships, including many national champions, will be in action this weekend at the BC Championship Jamboree for Midget, Youth, Junior and Senior athletes at the Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam. The Championships include para-athletic events. Amoung those competing are Ruky Abdulai, who will represent Canada at the World Track & Field Championships in Daegu, Korea later this year. Canadian Heptathlon champion, Abdulai will be contesting five individual events.

In addition to crowning BC Champions, the meet, hosted by the Coquitlam Cheetahs, is also a final qualifying opportunity for the Legion Canadian Midget and Youth Championships to be held in Ottawa next month.

Almost 1300 entries have been received for the competition that gets underway Friday evening, and continues through Saturday and Sunday.

Complete meet information can be found here: http://www.coquitlamcheetahs.org/p/bc-athletics-championships-jamboree.html

Victoria International Track Classic Features Strong Competition

The Victoria International Track Classic will see some rivalries and battles on Sunday July 3. The 23^rd annual event – now part of the inaugural National Track League – features a strong field including Khadevis Robinson, Dylan Armstrong, Jessica Zelinka, Ruky Abdulai, Carly Dockendorf, Mary Saxer and Lemlem Ogbasilassie. In honour of Gary Reed’s recent retirement the 800m men’s event will be named the Gary Reed 800m.

United States 800m sensation Khadevis Robinson will be hoping to break his own record of 1:43:68 in the Gary Reed 800m, the last event of the meet. Coincidentally Gary Reed holds the same time – a Canadian record and personal best. Robinson won the Rome Golden Gala 800m (Samsung Diamond League) in May in 1:45:07, and has won eight USA championships – four outdoor and four indoor. He was the 1998 NCAA Outdoor champion and four-time USA Outdoor runner-up. Many of Canada’s top 800m runners will compete in the Gary Reed 800m including top three ranked Andrew Ellerton, Kyle Smith and Quin Ferguson, all fromVictoria.

Track Classic favourite Dylan Armstrong is back, and after a successful showing at the Canadian Track and Field Championships last week is now ranked #1 thrower in the world. Now top of the Diamond League, the Kamloops native has posted five of the year’s top 10 distances, and he broke the Canadian record at the nationals on four of his six throws, throwing 22:21 on his final throw.

Heptathletes Jessica Zelinka and Ruky Abdulai will be battling it out in one of their seven events. A preview was seen at the nationals last week when Abdulai set three personal bests in the 100m hurdles, 200m and the javelin. Zelinka, the 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medalist was upset by just 18 points, while Abdulai’s 6150 point total should see her selected for the world championships this August in South Korea.

In the pole vault there will be a tussle between national champion Carly Dockendorf and American Mary Saxer. Dockendorf, who won Bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, will be hungry as she seeks to meet the world championship entry standard.

The women’s 800m will be a repeat of the nationals with eight finalists competing, headlined by the Canadian number one Lemlem Ogbasilassie. She came second at the nationals and has achieved two PB’s – at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, Stanford, CA (800m – 2:01:75) placing 2nd, and at the Sun Devil Open, Tempe, AZ (1500m – 4:18:73) which she won.

The Victoria International Track Classic is one of five meets that make up the inaugural National Track League (NTL). On top of taking aim at one of the ten available NTL titles, participating athletes will have a chance to earn Canadian only prize money in NTL identified events and through NTL performance bonus prize money. Canadian and international athletes are also eligible to earn open prize money offered by each competition. www.trackclassic.com.