© Copyright – 2012 – Athletics Illustrated

UPDATED: March 5th, 2012. 4:15 PM PST.

Sidney, BC – Sunday, March 4th 2012 – Two course records were smashed in a competitive race today at the Synergy Health Management Bazan Bay 5k road race in Sidney, British Columbia.

The new course was positively received by the athletes.

Canadian IAAF World Track and Field Championships competitor (1500m) Geoff Martinson raced to a new men’s course record with his improvement on Canadian Olympic triathlete Simon Whitfield’s record time of 14:36. Whitfield is an Olympic Gold and Silver medalist. Martinson’s time was 14:20 on a brand new, flat and fast course. He said, “it was a great course, perfect for a fast run given its flatness and the course being in a straight line.” Martinson is seeking a spot on the Olympic team in the 1500m distance.

Martinson led into a slight headwind from the start, ahead of Olympic triathlete and second place finisher Brent McMahon with his finishing time of 14:44 and several University of Victoria Vike team members including third overall finisher Dylan Haight, who finished in 14:48. “Gotta love running along the ocean, how many races get that kind of scenery,” said Martinson.

The women’s overall winner Malindi Elmore, is also seeking a Canadian Olympic team spot in either the 1500m or 5000m distance. Today she showed her fitness by winning by a large margin and setting a new course record of 15:48, Elmore shared, “The course was great. It was beautiful along the ocean. A nice flat course that went by very quickly!”

Dylan Haight said, “I really liked the course, it is nice and flat, so I could just get into a rhythm pretty quickly and not worry too much about being off pace.”

Top three overall women were, Hilary Stellingwerff in 16:32, who hopes to qualify for the London Olympics, also in the 1500m distance. Third woman overall was Ellen Pennock and first master was Marilyn Arsenault, both finishing in 16:54.

First master male finisher was Victoria’s Ian Hallam, who finished in 15:31.

The Bazan Bay 5k is race number five of the eight race Vancouver Island Race Series.

Full results are available at the website www.racedaytiming.ca

Top-20 overall.

Place Div/Tot Div   Guntime  PerF Name                      Club                       Nettime
===== ======= ===== =======  ==== ========================= ========================== =======
    1   1/33  M2529   14:20#  907 Geoff Martinson                                        14:20
    2   1/32  M3034   14:44   883 Brent McMahon             National Triathlon Trainin   14:44
    3   1/22  M2024   14:48   879 Dylan Haight              Vikes                        14:48
    4   2/33  M2529   14:58   869 Benjamin Thistlewood      Point Grey Track Club        14:58
    5   3/33  M2529   15:00   867 Andrew McCartney          National Triathlon Trainin   15:00
    6   2/22  M2024   15:07   860 Josh Clouthier            Vikes                        15:07
    7   4/33  M2529   15:08   859 Samuel Pawluk             Point Grey Track Club        15:08
    8   5/33  M2529   15:10   858 Andrew Russell            National Triathlon Trainin   15:10
    9   3/22  M2024   15:16   852 Doug Oxland                                            15:16
   10   6/33  M2529   15:18   850 Sean Chester              Aspire Running               15:18
   11   1/27  M1619   15:24*  845 Patrick Psotka            Vikes                        15:24
   12   7/33  M2529   15:25   844 Nicholas Walker           Frontrunners Athletic Club   15:25
   13   1/44  M4044   15:31*  838 Ian Hallam                Prairie Inn Harriers Runni   15:31
   14   1/28  M3539   15:35*  835 Shane Ruljancich          Prairie Inn Harriers Runni   15:35
   15   2/27  M1619   15:38*  832 Joel Deschiffart          Bastion Running Club         15:37
   16   4/22  M2024   15:39   831 Carlos Lesser             Livefit Coaching             15:39
   17   3/27  M1619   15:41*  829 Russell Pennock                                        15:41
   18   8/33  M2529   15:42   828 Greg Critchley            Kronos Triathlon Club        15:42
   19   5/22  M2024   15:43   828 Jeff Phillips             National Triathlon Trainin   15:43
   20   9/33  M2529   15:45   826 Dylan Gant                Point Grey Track Club        15:45
   21   1/41  F3034   15:48#  943 Malindi Elmore            Speed River                  15:48

Check back soon to view race videos and interviews.