© Copyright – 2014 – Athletics Illustrated
Victoria’s Geoff Martinson and Nanaimo’s Erin Burrett both won the 2014 Synergy Health Bazan Bay 5k today under filtered sun and mild conditions. Meanwhile, Victoria’s Craig Odermatt and Vancouver’s Catherine Watkins won the masters division.
Martinson won the race in a new course record time of 14:12, breaking his own previous course record of 14:20 from 2012. He was followed in by four University of Victoria Vikes in a row, which were Patrick Psotka, Dylan Haight, Thomas Getty and Cody Therrien. The Vikes’ train was interrupted by Australian Adam Byles then two of the next five were also Vikes, led by Benjamin Weir, Logan Roots of the Prairie Inn Harries, Derek Vinge of the Comox Valley Road Runners and Vike, Trevor Schiavone. “Martinson’s time was the fastest (road) 5K ever run in BC, and only six seconds shy of the Canadian All-Comers best of 14:06 run by Wesley Korir in Toronto in 2012,” said BC Athletics Representative Maurice Wilson.
The top three males were Martinson: 14:12, Psotka who finished 14:48 and Haight with his time of 14:51. Martinson led from the gun and the contest was over very early. Martinson is a former Vike as well as a 2011 IAAF World Track and Field Championships competitor. He specialised in the 1500 metre distance. “I am happy with my time. I have been doing workouts that have indicated that I could run roughly about that time, so I was hoping for 14:15 or better,” said Martinson. However, he wouldn’t budge on whether he plans to come out of retirement in time to train for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Incidentally he ran his best 5000 metre race of 13:45 during 2011.
Burrett’s win was not clear until after the 4km mark where she passed leader Kimberley Doerksen and maintained the lead until the finish. They finished in 16:35 and 16:50, respectively. Burrett recently competed in the North American, Central American and Caribbean Cross Country Championships (NACAC), helping team Canada to a silver medal position. “I learned a few things at NACAC and look forward to making the team again,” said the Nanaimo based runner. She added, “Today was a good race, the first kilometre was a little fast at about 3:14. I wanted as closest to 16:30 as I could get and I almost did that with a 12 second personal best in 16:35.”
Catherine Watkins of Vancouver finished third female and first master, finishing in 16:52. Other top women were Jen Moroz in 17:28, Marilyn Arsenault, who was the second master crossing the line in 17:30, in her first race since the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in September 2013. Four of the next five finishers were women with Savannah Gellner and Vike Maddy MacDonald in a virtual tie at 17:33, they were followed in by Melissa Ross of Parksville as well as Meaghan McCollum.
The top male masters were Prairie Inn Harrier’s, Craig Odermatt who finished in 15:48 who was followed in by Bruce Deacon in 15:57 and Comox Valley road Runner Vince Brotherston in 16:29.
The Synergy Health Bazan Bay 5k is race #5 in the BC Super Series and is race #5 of the Island Race Series.
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