Cloudy, cool conditions greeted participants in the 26th Annual TC10K today in Victoria. Although rain was forecast, the day turned out to be perfect conditions in the B.C. Capital as the 10K runners and walkers lined up on Government Street, and the Half Marathon runners at the University of Victoria. Ten thousand, five hundred and twenty seven (10,527) registered for the event – 8,973 in the 10K, 538 in the Half and 1,106 in the Thrifty Foods Family Run.
Vancouver’s Kelly Weibe recorded the fifth fastest TC10K time ever and was the third fastest winner, finishing in 29:08. Two Kenyans placed second and third – Leonard Kipkoech in 30:02, and Willy Kimosop in 30:18. Wiebe – who was the top Canadian – wanted to win after finishing 6th in last week’s Vancouver Sun Run. “I knew the Kenyan’s would be tough competition so I gave it all I could,” he said.
For the third year in a row, Jane Murage, from Kenya, won the women’s race with her best TC10K time of 33:07. It was also the third fastest women’s time in the race’s history. Second was American Lindsey Scherf in 33:31, with the fifth fastest women’s time, and third was Ontario’s Lioudmila Kortchaquina in 34:10, who was also the top female Canadian and Master.
In the men’s Master’s category, Victoria’s Jim Finlayson repeated his 2014 Master’s victory finishing in 31:36. Second was Philip Samoei, running his first TC10K as a Master, finishing in 31:50, and third was 2015 Vancouver Island Series Champion, Craig Odermatt with a time of 32:43. Victoria’s Marilyn Arsenault was the second female Master (35:12) and third was Lucy Smith (35:44). There was one age group record in the W85-99 category – Maisie Barnett in 1:35:19.
The wheelchair race was won by three-time Paralympic Gold Medalist and Parksville MLA Michelle Stilwell in 30:22 – four minutes faster than her 2014 winning time.
The 2nd Annual Half Marathon was an exciting battle between 2014 Champion Nick Walker and Canadian National Team Mountain runner Kris Swanson. Walker took the lead at the start but the two were neck and neck until Swanson pulled away. “I made the move with 2.5 km to go, I had a nice downhill and gradually increased my lead,” he said afterwards. He won in 1:12:11 setting a new course record. Walker was second in 1:12:59 (26 seconds faster than his 2014 winning time) and Yann Bernaquez from Nanaimo was third in 1:14:49. Top Master was Shay Averbuch in 1:17:58, who also set an age group record in the M40-49 age category.
In the women’s race Victoria’s Karen Thibodeau won in 1:23:35, second and top Master was Cheryl Nicholls in 1:28:16, and third was Andrea Snider from Grand Prairie in 1:29:46. Thibodeau also set an age category record (W35-39). There were 13 age group records in total set in the Half Marathon.
“What a fabulous day for all involved. Congratulations to all the participants for committing to the event and crossing the finish line,” said VIRS General Manager, Cathy Noel. “With over 800 volunteers, the sponsors, charities and suppliers, the Victoria International Running Society was able to successfully host the 26th annual event – a fixture in the Canadian Running Calendar.”
Nine thousand, three hundred and eleven (9,311) finished the event: 7,840 in the 10K, 455 in the Half Marathon, and 1,016 in the Thrifty Foods 1.5K Family Run.
The official results of the TC10K are on www.tc10k.ca/results