Timex BC Road Running Series Update

With 11  races complete, and 4 to go, the leaders in the 2012 Timex BC Road Running Series are starting to emerge.

Melissa Ross leads the women’s rankings by a slim 9 points over Sabrina Wilkie (4190 to 4181). But last year’s champion, Natasha Fraser, has only completed 4 races to date, and could still retain her title. Also don’t overlook top masters Lucy Smith and Marilyn Arsenault, as well as Catrin Jones, who also need one more race to move up the rankings.

On the men’s side, Sam Pawluk has a comfortable lead over top master Kevin O’Connor (4325 to 4244). Jim Finlayson, Steve Osaduik, Jerry Ziak and Kevin Friesen are all within striking distance, but must complete 2 more races to do so.

Next race in the series is the Running Room Shaughnessy 8K on Sunday, which also serves as the 2012 BC 8K Championship.  

The remaining races are:
June 10, Sandcastle 10K
June 15, NSCU Longest Day 5K
July 15, Kelowna Midsummer 8K

Only BC Athletics members who complete 5 or more races are eligible for awards. Complete series details and current rankings: http://www.bcathletics.org/RRSeries/

2012 Frontrunners Island Race Series

The Sooke River 10K was the concluding race of the eight race 2012 Frontrunners Island Race Series (http://vira.bc.ca/default.aspx?PageID=1002) that started with the Prairie Inn Pioneer 8K in January. A total of 270 individuals ran the minimum races required to qualify for series awards, with 59 of those completing all eight races.

In the overall standings, Sean Chester placed first overall for the second straight year, averaging 840.0 points, one more than his 2011 average. Shane Ruljancich improved from third in 2011 to second this year, though with a slightly lower point score, averaging 816.6. Newcomer Ben Brzezynski rounded out the top three with a point average of 814.8.

Care Nelson also successfully defended her title, with marginally less points than last year, averaging 824.2. Claire Morgan moved up from third last year with another significant improvement, averaging 811.4 points for second place. And F50 Nancy Baxendale showed many younger runners that experience can still bring reward, placing third with 783.2 points.

Series age groups are determined by age as of Dec 31, 2012. The winners were:

M0115:  Ryan Niezen, 651.0
M1619:  Joel Deschiffart, 811.8
M2024:  Ben Brzezynski, 814.8
M2529:  Sean Chester, 840.0
M3034:  Mike Chandler, 791.4
M3539:  Shane Ruljancich, 816.6
M4044:  Richard Light, 744.2
M4549:  Vince Brotherston, 771.2
M5054:  Keith Wakelin, 688.4
M5559:  Wayne Crowe, 709.6
M6064:  Rick Laing, 643.2
M6569:  Arjan Gelling, 698.4
M7074:  Bill Hollingshead, 585.8
M7579:  Mike Ellis, 535.8
M8084:  John Woodall, 496.8

F0115:  Emily Keyes, 641.7
F1619:  Megan Lewis-Schneider, 742.5
F2024:  Vicky Domonkos, 612.8
F2529:  Care Nelson, 824.2
F3034:  Sonja Yli-Kahila, 753.4
F3539:  Claire Morgan, 811.4
F4044:  Deborah Epps, 702.8
F4549:  Angela Plamondon, 711.0
F5054:  Nancy Baxendale, 783.2
F5559:  Margaret Cairns, 633.2
F6064:  Roslyn Smith, 690.8
F6569:  Valerie Gonzales, 573.2
F7074:  Maree Kennell, 506.8

In the club standings, Prairie Inn Harriers once again dominated, but with a reduced total from 2011, accumulating 4,272 points. Comox Valley Road Runners were second with 2,761 points, and Frontrunners placed third with 2,125.

Complete series rankings here: http://racedaytiming.ca/series

Road Running Series Kicks Off this Sunday

The 2012 Timex BC Road Running Series (http://www.bcathletics.org/RRSeries/) gets underway this Sunday at the Harriers Pioneer 8K in Saanich. The race is also the first event in the Frontrunners Island Race Series (http://www.vira.bc.ca/), the first of the regional race series to get underway.

The Lower Mainland Road Race Series (http://www.lmrrs.com/) starts up later this month, with the Icebreaker 8K in Steveston on January 29, which is also the second event in the Timex BC Road Running Series.

Racing in the Canadian Tire Interior Running Series (http://www.interiorrunning.ca/) kicks off on February 12 with the Starting Block 10K in Lavington (Vernon).

The Prince George Grand Prix Series (http://www.pgroadrunners.ca/) will be the final regional road running series to out of the blocks. Racing in the North starts on March 25 with the Heights Fiver.

2011 Canadian Tire Interior Road Race Series

This year the Canadian Tire Interior Road Race Series comprised 11 races, starting back in February at the Starting Block 10K, and wrapping up with the Peak to Beak 18K in Kelowna. 64 individuals contested the minimum of 5 races required to qualify for series awards, with a maximum of seven races counting towards an individuals points total. Michelle Sinclair, Carol Chisholm, Kathryne Flannery, Patricia Riegel, Kathleen Yanke, Jason Rodine, Dan Kunzelman, Marcus Heinrich, Bill Head, Melvin Doherty, Ken Riegel, and Bill Stephens had the notable distinction of running all 11 races. For Melvin Doherty this was his 18th consecutive year of accomplishing this feat, representing over 220 Interior Series races without absence.

Series age groups winners, who will be recognized at the annual awards banquet in Kamloops on November 12, were:

F40-44  Michelle Sinclair
F45-49  Janice McQuilkin
F50-54  Cindy Rhodes
F55-59  Laurelee Welder
F60-64  Astrid Varga
F65-69  Diane Leonard
F70-74 Liz Borrett

M20-29  Timothy Mundall
M30-34  Jason Rodine
M35-39  Ken Hilverda
M40-44  Rick Stone
M45-49  Dan Kunzelman
M50-54  Steve Briggeman
M55-59  Rick Jenkner
M60-64  Roy Uzelman
M65-69  Ellis Andrews
M70-74 Bill Stephens
M75-79 Guenter Naumann

In addition, the Series age-grades the results of each race, and maintains age-graded standings. Cindy Rhodes won the womens age-graded competition for the fifth straight year, although she was once again denied a perfect score, this year by second place Liz Borrett who bettered her in the final race. Laurelee Welder was third. In the mens age-grading Ellis Andrews was a clear winner over Roy Unzelman and Leo Rankin.

Complete Series standings can be found on the Interior Running Association website: http://www.interiorrunning.ca/

Next up for athletes in the Interior is the Cross Country Series, which got underway in August and continues next month.

2011 Lower Mainland Road Race Series

The third edition of the Lower Mainland Road Race Series wrapped up on Sunday with the Richmond Oval 10K. The Series began back in January with the Icebreaker 8K, and featured 11 races around the Lower Mainland, from 5K to half marathon distance. All told, the 11 races collectively had more than 4,000 finishers. To qualify for the series, participants had to complete 5 or more races. Points were awarded based on position within 5-year age groups. The top 3 in each age group received prizes from Timex, the Running Room, and Impact Magazine.

Final series rankings, photos of the end of series awards, and complete details of the series can be found at www.lmrrs.com.

Five individuals had the notable distinction of completing all 11 races, and received Running Room gift cards for their efforts. They were Natsuko Kamikawara, Colin Beadle, Dickson Choy, Pat Cheung, and Rob Daniel. For Choy and Daniel it was the third consecutive year they have accomplished this feat.

Age group winners were:

M<20:  Joe Gargaro
M2024:  Brandon Jones
M2529:  David Palermo
M3034:  Donovan Watts
M3539:  Yannick Le Carre
M4044:  Robert Uebbing
M4549:  Davey Gin
M5054:  Mark Bennett
M5559:  Dave Frilund
M6064:  Scott Stewart
M6569:  Michael Foster
M70+:  Herb Phillips

F<20:  Jennifer Chew
F2024:  Kimberley Doerksen
F2529:  Natasha Wodak
F3034:  Amy Schneeberg
F3539:  Karen Warrendorf
F4044:  Helen Ritchie
F4549:  Teresa Nightingale
F5054:  Susan Gordon
F5559:  Lilian Wong
F6064:  Irene Wingate
F6569:  Cara Smith
F70+:  Helen Sabourin

 

Finlayson and Wodak, 2011 Timex BC Road Running Series Champions

The 2011 Timex BC Road Running Series, that started in January with the Prairie Inn Pioneer 8K, concluded on Sunday at the Kelowna Midsummer 8K. The 15 series races produced some close contests, some excellent performances, and almost 55,000 total finishers.

Points were awarded based on performance, with an athletes’ five best performances counting in the final rankings. Only BC Athletics Junior, Senior, Masters, and Road & Trail members are eligible for series awards. The top four athletes, men and women, receive prize money and an invitation to represent BC at the Timex National Series Finale in Toronto in September, to be held in conjunction with the 2011 Canadian 10K Road Running Championship. The next three athletes receive Timex merchandise.

The men’s competition was extremely close. Jim Finlayson (Victoria), David Jackson (Abbotsford), and Jeremiah Ziak (Vancouver) had demonstrated how closely matched they were all season by finishing within one second of each other at the Vancouver Sun Run. In the end Finlayson came out on top with 4,421 points, with Jackson second with 4,405 points, and Ziak right behind in third with 4,403 points. Kevin Friesen (Burnaby) completed the top four with 4,288 points.

By contrast, Natasha Wodak (Port Moody) was a class apart in the women’s competition, scoring almost identical to Finlayson with 4,420 points. It was much closer for the remaining places. Shauna Skinner (Vancouver) was consistent throughout the series to take second with 4,253 points. Melissa Ross (Errington) showed continued improvement, particularly towards the end of the series, to take third with 4,206 points. And Care Wakely (Victoria) completed the top four with 4,170 points.

Final series standings for all athletes who finished 5 or more races can be found here for the men, and here for the women.

Complete series details: http://www.bcathletics.org/RRSeries/index.htm

2011 Frontrunners Island Race Series

The Sooke River 10K was the concluding race of the eight race 2011 Frontrunners Island Race Series (http://vira.bc.ca/default.aspx?PageID=1002) that started with the Prairie Inn Pioneer 8K in January. A total of 303 individuals ran the minimum races required to qualify for series awards, with 77 of those completing all eight races.

In the overall standing, Sean Chester placed first overall, averaging 839.0 points. Top master Craig Odermatt improved one place on 2010 for second with an 829.2 point average. And Shane Ruljancich was third with 820.0 points. The women’s final standings saw Care Wakely avenge last year’s second place, turning the tables on Melissa Ross. Both athletes showed the progress they are making, improving their point averages to 824.8 and 819.4 respectively. Claire Morgan again placed third, but also improved on her 2010 point score with a 784.6 average.

Series age groups are determined by age as of Dec 31, 2011. The winners were:

M0115:  Ryan Niezen, 652.0
M1619:  Logan Roots, 780.0
M2024:  Trevor Ruck, 766.6
M2529:  Sean Chester, 839.0
M3034:  Byr0n Trajan, 771.4
M3539:  Shane Ruljancich, 820.0
M4044:  Craig Odermatt, 829.2
M4549:  James Gardner, 751.4
M5054:  Garth Campbell, 742.0
M5559:  Wayne Crowe, 704.8
M6064:  Jack Meredith, 621.2
M6569:  Brian Connon, 675.0
M7074:  Bill Hollingshead, 580.4
M7579:  John Woodall, 520.2
M8084:  Maurice Tarrant, 528.6

F0115:  Robyn Noel, 547.3
F1619:  Nichola Kennell, 676.8
F2024:  Kaylee Beales, 698.8
F2529:  Care Wakely, 819.4
F3034:  Sonja Yli-Kahila, 749.2
F3539:  Claire Morgan, 784.6
F4044:  Mary Bridges, 722.0
F4549:  Angela Plamondon, 723.6
F5054:  Nancy Baxendale, 776.2
F5559:  Faye Amos, 649.8
F6064:  Roslyn Smith, 677.0
F6569:  Pauline Naidoo, 568.2
F7074:  Diane Palmason, 505.6

In the club standings, Prairie Inn Harriers once again dominated, accumulating 5,126 points. Comox Valley Road Runners were second, edging out Bastion in the final event, 2,792 points to 2,731.

Complete series rankings here: http://pih.bc.ca/results/IslandSeriesIndividual.php

Starting Block Interior Cross Country Series

The 2010 Starting Block Interior Cross Country Series wrapped up at Kal Park near Vernon on Sunday. The 6 race series, starting in Kamloops in August, saw record participation.

Series age group winners, who had to contest at least 3 races in the series, were:

F0015: Glynis Sim
F1619: Meryn Sim
F2029: Shanda Hill
F3034: Suzanne Macht
F3539: Tammy Howe
F4044: Leana Marton
F4549: Gayle Wilson
F5054: Catherine Johnson
F5559: Linda Irvine
F6064: Judy Lloyd
F6569: Min Rayson

M1619: Matthew Hidasi
M2029: Yannick Letailleur
M3539: Jason Ladyman
M4044: Tom Cumming
M4549: Mike Brown
M5054: Ivan McKnight
M5559: Keith Johnstone
M6064: Teddy Boyko
M6569: John Bosomworth
M7579: Bruce Butcher

Complete series results and scoring: http://www.interiorrunning.ca/

2010 Canadian Tire Interior Road Race Series

The 12 race Canadian Tire Road Race Series, which started back in February at the Starting Block 10K, wrapped up with the Peak to Beak 18K in Kelowna. 86 individuals contested the minimum of 5 races required to qualify for series awards, with a maximum of seven races counting towards an individuals points total. Shanda Hill, Alanna Simms, Gayle Wilson, Kathryne Flannery, Jason Rodine, Chris Greenway, and Melvin Doherty had the notable distinction of running all 12 races. For Melvin Doherty this was his 17th consecutive year of accomplishing this feat, representing over 210 Interior Series races within absence.

Series age groups winners, who will be recognized at the annual awards banquet in Vernon on November 13, were:

F20-29  Shanda Hill
F30-34  Catherine Christy
F35-39  Alanna Simms
F40-44  Debbie Taylor
F45-49  Caroline Raine
F50-54  Cindy Rhodes
F55-59  Laurelee Welder
F60-64  Janet Rhoddy
F65-69  Diane Leonard

M<15  Bryce Turner
M16-19  Josh Forster
M20-29  Jason Rodine
M30-34  Glenn Lear
M35-39  Kenny Simms
M40-44  Brian Rostek
M45-49  Sergio Pio
M50-54  Ivan McKnight
M55-59  John Wickenheiser
M60-64  Brian Rourke
M65-69  Garry Bell
M70+  Guenter Naumann

In addition, the Series age-grades the results of each race, and maintains age-graded standings. Cindy Rhodes won the womens age-graded competition for the fourth straight year, although she was denied a perfect score this year by second place Laurelee Welder, with Diane Leonard third. In the mens age-grading Sergio Pio pipped Brian Rourke for the title by running the best age-graded performance in the final race, with Brian Rostek also leap-frogging to third in the last race.

Complete Series standings can be found on the Interior Running Association website: http://www.interiorrunning.ca/

Registration Open for the 2011 Frontrunners Island Race Series

Registration is now open for the 2011 Frontrunners Island Race Series. Register for the complete 8 race series before December 1, 2010 for only $120, less than half the price of individual race day registrations.

The 8 race series gets underway on January 9 at the Prairie Inn Pioneer 8K in Saanichton, which will also serve as the 2011 BC 8K Championship. And wraps up on April 17 at the Sooke River 10K.

The Frontrunners Island Race Series is designed to promote running, fitness and inter-club competition on the Island.  The series is organized by the Vancouver Island Runners’ Association (VIRA), and the local running clubs. 

Complete series details and online registration here: http://www.vira.bc.ca/default.aspx?PageID=1002

Steve Nash Sports Club Lower Mainland Road Race Series

The Steve Nash Sports Club Lower Mainland Road Race Series wrapped up at the Richmond Oval 10K. Following the race, awards for the series that kicked off in January at the Icebreaker 8K, were presented.

Special recognition was given to four individuals who finished all 10 races in the series – Dickson Choy, Larry Lorette, Pat Cheung, and Rob Daniel.

79 individuals qualified for series awards by completing a minimum of 5 races. Top performers received prizes courtesy of Steve Nash Sports Club, Timex, Running Room, and Impact Magazine. Age group winners were:

M<20  James Lamers
M20-24  Adam Frilund
M25-29  Tristan Simpson
M30-34  Ross Greenwood
M35-39  Noah Wallace
M40-44  Kevin O’Connor
M45-49  Kevin McGinnis
M50-54  Dave Frilund
M55-59  Steve Hosford
M60-64  Jean-Pierre Poggioli
M65-69  John Pickering
M70+  Herb Phillips

F<20  Kimberley Doerksen
F20-24  Tara Berry
F25-29  Kristin Smart
F30-34  Lara Duke
F35-39  Rachel Ruus
F40-44  Lisa Morrow
F45-49  Bari-Elyn Wise
F50-54  Mary Mullany
F55-59  No qualifiers
F60-64  Irene Wingate
F65-69  Phyllis D’Entremont
F70+  No qualifiers

Final rankings and complete series information can be found here: http://www.lmrrs.com/index.htm

2010 Frontrunners Island Race Series

The Frontrunners Island Race Series is designed to promote running, fitness and inter-club competition on the Island. The series is organized by the Vancouver Island Runners’ Association (VIRA), and the local running clubs. Between January and April eight races will be staged in various Island communities in all categories from Junior to Veterans. Full details can be found on the Series website at www.vira.bc.ca.

2010 Lower Mainland Road Race Series

The 2010 Lower Mainland Road Race Series features ten of the best events in the Vancouver area, providing runners of all ages and abilities with the chance to compete against their peers. The series kicks-off at the Steveston Ice-Breaker 8k in Richmond on January 17, and concludes with the Richmond Oval 10k on August 15. The ten events feature races over 5K, 8K, 10K and the half marathon. All races are sanctioned by B.C. Athletics, and all courses are certified. Full details can be found on the Series website at www.lmrrs.com.

2010 Timex BC Road Running Series

The British Columbia Timex Road Running Series is part of the National Timex Road Racing Series, held in nine provinces and culminating in the inter-provincial Timex Series Finale. The BC Series consists of 13 races from January to July, in the Lower Mainland, on Vancouver Island, and in the Interior. Most races are also part of regional series. Top series finishers completing a minimum of 5 races will be eligible for cash prizes. The top 4 men and women in the Series will additionally be invited to represent BC at the 2010 Timex Series Finale and National 10K Championship in October. Full details can be found on the Series website at www.bcathletics.org/RRSeries.