© Copyright – 2026 – Athletics Illustrated
University of Victoria Vikes athletes Madelyn Eybergen and Jaxon Kuchar won the 2026 Harriers Pioneer 8K on Sunday, January 11, at Saanich Fairgrounds.
Women’s race
In 1981, British pop star Boy George wrote a top-selling 1982 hit song with I’ll Tumble For You. The lyrics in the chorus proved poignant on the day.
“I’ll be your baby, I’ll be your score
I’ll run the gun for you, and so much more
I’ll tumble for ya…”
As it turns out, the most winningest runner in Pioneer 8K history is North Vancouver’s Natasha Wodak was tripped. The 1981-born runner was just learning to walk when the song topped the charts. Turns out Wodak took a tumble, which knocked her down within the first few metres of the race.
She went down hard. Bloodied on the arm and knee. Wodak got up, winced and chased the lead runner, Madelyn Eybergen, to the finish, taking second and first master (35-plus and 40-plus).
They went 1-2, and third was Dayna Pidhoresky, 12 years after her third-place finish in 2014. Her 26:56 time is a new personal best. Pidhoresky is also from Vancouver, and a training partner of Wodak’s; both are Olympians. Wodak holds the national best known time (not kept as a record) over 8km with her 2013 run of 25:28 on a different course from the same venue at Saanich Fairgrounds. The record-non-record still stands. As does her current national marathon record of 2:23:12.
Eyberen broke the tape in 26:22. Fast and very impressive for her first-ever road race over any distance. Eybergen seems to be a natural talent and off with minimal exposure to racing, is getting faster, it seems with each race.
The 24-year-old Ontarian was a high jumper two years ago. In October, she finished second at the Canada West Cross Country Championships. Two weeks later, the UVic Vike athlete won the U Sport National Cross Country Championships. Friday, January 16, she will be racing at the University of Washington over 3000m.
“I’d like to improve on my personal best of 9:25.69 on Friday,” shared Eybergen, who now has a little experience over the distance; however, she has not raced at the unique indoor facility that offers the unusual distance of a 307m track.
For Wodak, she was not totally “in the game” after the fall, but “proud of myself for not quitting.”
As it turns out, a training friend, Dr. William Pidduck, happens to be a fast runner and an emergency room professional. He crossed the line in 25:08, ran to the medical tent and took care of Wodak’s injuries, just like a day at work. He finished eighth overall in 25:08.
Men’s race
In the men’s race, UVic Vike Jaxon Kuchar rolled out a tremendous effort to win in an impressive 23:34. The time was fast, considering Tristan Woodfine—who some would argue should have been in the Tokyo Olympics—clocked a 23:10 at the 2022 edition of the Pioneer 8K. Those 23 seconds feel like a lot when you are the athlete, but today’s performance was quick regardless. He was clear of second by 36 seconds.
Taking second was Louis Marmar Maruk with the Vancouver Falcons Athletic Club in 24:09. Gabe van Hezewijk, a former Vike, now running for the Victoria Endurance Track Club, took third in a solid 24:14 for a new personal best time.
Maruk, who is from Uganda, ran the wrong way for a few seconds at one of the road crossings. Kuchar yelled for him to join back in the race. It was a show of good sportsmanship, but the Trail, BC native did it at the risk of getting beaten.
Wodak’s teammate, Andrew Russell, with host club, Prairie Inn Harriers, was the first master across the line (40-plus), clocking a 25:35 performance. His time was 18 seconds faster than in 2025.
Shoestrings…
The top U20 runner was Harrier Max MacArthur. He clocked in at 27:16, 30th overall and with a big new personal best. The top U20 female is fellow Harrier Danica Vrabel in 32:06. Harrier Alexie Bowser competes in the 20-24 category. She finished second in her age group, but is still age 19. Twenty-three-year-old national triathlon team member Sophia Howell won the age group in 28:46. Bowser clocked in at 31:28, in her first competitive road race.
Scott Simpson, a one-time national 10,000m champion, was in the race. As was Olympian and Ironman Champion Brent McMahon and 19-time Canadian champion Lucy Smith. As was Smith’s daughter, Maia Watson, whose big seasonal goal is the 70.3 half ironman event in Dallas on March 13.
Also seen in the crowd was Athletics Canada’s Chris Winter. He competed internationally in cross country and in the 3000m steeplechase. His wife, Rachel Cliff, a former national marathon record holder, was also in the mix. Now they enjoy participating while on a family weekend getaway from Vancouver.
The fastest 8km time for a woman in the 75-79 age group in Canada is 39:02. That performance was set by Roslyn Smith with the Comox Valley Road Runners in January 2024.
The performance was at the Pioneer 8K in 2024. The result also set a pending World Record for the age category.
Smith holds multiple other Canadian age-group records across various distances (5K, 10K, half-marathon). Two years hence, she is nearly as fast, running 39:28 chip time and 39:39 gun time.
The Vancouver Island Race Series continues with seven more races, with the Cobble Hill 10K on Sunday, January 23 at 11:00.
