Madelyn Eybergen wins the 2026 Victoria Track Classic 5000m in a new personal best time of 15:30

© Copyright – 206 – Athletics Illustrated

University of Victoria Vike Madelyn Eybergen won the 2026 Victoria Track Classic 5000 metre race on Friday, June 12, in a new personal best time of 15:30.36, which is exactly what she was aiming for.

She was paced through several laps metronomically by teammates Marisha Thompson and Colette Reimer. They ran 74 seconds per 400m lap.

The 24-year-old Kincardine, Ontario native ran a 16-second personal best in what the Vikes head coach called “ideal conditions.” The usually breezy and cool stadium was warm, and the air was still. Eybergen was prepared to run some of the race alone. She expected this after Thompson and Reimer dropped off, and having a gap between her and her competitors.

A few athletes were running 3000m within the 5000m event.

“I was prepared to run alone for parts of the race, but it was nice to have some other athletes to pick off,” she said, referring to the 3000m athletes.

Finishing second was fellow Vike Christina Peet Williams, and third was Ella Ballard, both representing a club team named Victoria Endurance Track Club. They finished in 17:40.48 and 18:02.31, respectively.

It was Natalie Boston with the Grizzly Endurance Collective Athletics Club who won the 3000m, clocking 9:48.78. Teammate Jamie Gladdish finished second in 9:54.57, while local Prairie Inn Harriers Racing Team member Clara Simpson, at age 15, took third in 10:09.33.

In January, at Penn State, Boston ran 9:49.70, so Victoria represents a new personal best time.

Men’s 3000m

Matthew Travaglini flew out from Calgary to race the 3000m. He was looking for a new personal best time. The former Calgary Dino works full-time and races mostly on the roads. However, he did set his current personal best of 8:07.28 last summer at the Harry Jerome Track Classic in Burnaby (Vancouver) at Swangard Stadium. He is going back there again on Tuesday, July 14.

“I would like to go after the benchmarks of sub-8:00, sub-14, sub-29 while I can,” shared Travaglini.

He will also be running the Royal Victoria Half Marathon in October. His best half-marathon time was on the Victoria route, two years ago, when he clocked 1:06:25.

“I would like to run and get under 1:06 and slowly chip away at faster times, he added. “But it is difficult coming out to weekday races while working full time,” he said, chuckling.

The 32-year-old is working on his shorter distances before he transitions to the marathon.

He ran 8:09.15 and held off a hard-charging Jaxon Kuchar, who would not let go, running 8:09.92, for second place and a new personal best time.

Kuchar was excited to finish under 8:10. He wasn’t sure if he had accomplished the goal, but when the clock displayed his time after a delay, he was pretty happy.

Maximus Thiessen with the Calgary Spartans took third in 8:21.67.

“I just love coming out here to the beautiful Island, see the people and racing here,” said Travaglini who will also be racing the Thunderbirds 5000m Festival on June 27, seeking that elusive sub-14.

Kuchar, who is from Trail, BC, will be staying mostly in the Victoria area during the summer break. Last year, he returned home, but due to his summer job, was getting up at 3:00 AM to fit in a run before work. “Not this year. I will go home for a week, but will stay here and help with the UVic Vikes Summer Camps.”