
Media Release – Vancouver Island Race Series
A sunny, cool day greeted 385 participants in the Cedar 12K today, the third race in the Vancouver Island Race Series. Jonathan Behnke and Melissa Ross were crowned race champions. Cedar 12K was hosted by the Bastion Run Club.
For Behnke it was a homecoming having run with the Nanaimo based club for four years
before moving to Vancouver. Now running with the Falcons Athletic Club, he hit the tape
in 40:06. Second and top master was Campbell River’s Mark Cryderman finishing in
40:21. Third was Sean Chester (Prairie Inn Harriers/Athletics Illustrated) with a 41:47
time.
For Behnke it was his first Island Series win. “I had a 3:20/km goal pace going in. Mark
was ahead of me but knew after the turnaround that I could catch him.” He now has his
sights on the Pan Am XC Cup Community Race on February 29 and the Vancouver Sun
Run in April, before switching his sights to the cross-country season.
Nanaimo’s Ross won the women’s race in 46:15 with Patricia Roney (Prairie Inn
Harriers) second in 46:33 and Tara Tudor third in 49:53. Tudor was the top women’s
master. “Patricia and I are rivals going back and forth on trail runs,” said Ross.” We
were neck and neck for most of the race but I pulled away over the last five kilometres,
and I had to put in a hard effort to finish.” Ross, who won the Island Series title in 2017,
plans to run the rest of the races in the series. “I was stoked to win my club race today.”
There was one age class record – Craig Odermatt in the M50-54, finishing as second
master, in 42:25.
“The Bastion Run Club and our 82 volunteers were proud to have hosted runners in
Cedar today,” says Jim Rutherford, Race Director.” It was a perfect day for running and
resulted in many outstanding performances. Congratulation to all runners – including 26
smiling children who participated in our second annual kids fun run!"
Leading the club standings is the Prairie Inn Harriers with 1280 points, followed by
Ceevacs Roadrunners with 1133 and Bastion Run Club with 1000.
The next race in the Island Series is Hatley Castle 8K on February 23, followed by Port
Alberni Paper Chase 15K on March 8, Comox Valley RV Half Marathon on March 22,
TriStars Sooke 10K on April 5 and the Synergy Health Management Bazan Bay 5K and
Series Awards on April 19.