© Copyright – 2024 – Athletics Illustrated
On a day when the unbelievable happened in the city of Chicago where Ruth Chepngetich clocked a 2:09:56 marathon, there was a marathon going on in the city of Victoria, BC.
Craig McMillan of Vancouver, BC and Zoe Hamel a French citizen living in Victoria, BC won the 2024 Royal Victoria Marathon.
They finished in 2:28:53 and 2:47:48, respectively.
The men’s marathon
McMillan last raced the Royal Victoria Marathon in 2006 when he was just 29 years old. Now age 47 he believes he is running as well as he ever has. Eighteen years prior he clocked 2:45:48 for an 11th place finish. Sunday, he won.
“Yeah, I think I am running as well as I ever have.”
The former South African ran his best in 2019 at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon and finished in the time of 2:26:15.
“It was so nice here last time, it’s good to be back.”
McMillan trains with the Vancouver Falcons Athletic Club (VFAC).
Lance Risseuw of Calgary finished second in 2:31:12, while McMillan’s VFAC teammate David Morrissey, also competing in the 45-59 age-group took third in 2:35:58.
The first local runner across the line was Martin Odendaal with Speedfarm, clocking in at 2:36:28 and fourth overall and third 40-plus master.
The women’s marathon
Zoe Hamel finished in third place in 2023 in the time of 2:52:36. Sunday, she clocked her new personal best time of 2:47:48.
“I was aiming for 2:50 thinking that was a lot asl myself, so I am pretty happy running that fast,” said Hamel.
Her coach Jim Finlayson was all smiles afterwards. He appeared more elated than Hamel. Finlayson had several other athletes on site including North America’s fastest-ever marathon runner Cam Levins, who was holding the finishing line banner for the top athletes.
Levins is currently navigating a heel issue. Last year he set a new half marathon course record in Victoria at 1:01:18.
Finishing in second place was Rozlyn Boutin in 2:49:24 and she was closely followed in by Catrin Jones and Christine Brant, both from Victoria.
Jones was the first 40-plus master, she won the event in 2010 and 2013.
Men’s half marathon
Andrew Davies clocked in a one-minute personal best taking the win in the time of 1:03:19. The Sarnia, ON native will race the national cross-country championships next month in London, ON.
Taking second was Seattle, WA athlete Brian Masterson who finished in 1:05:05. Taking third was Andrew Oslin from nearby Bellingham, WA. He recorded a 1:06:22 finish.
Former winner Matthew Travaglini finished fourth in a new personal best of 1:06:25.
“I would rather finish fourth with a new personal best, than win in a slow time, so I am pretty happy with the result,” shared Travaglini.
The top local was Daniel Mulushet Zewdu who clocked in at 1:07:04 and rolled in for fourth place.
Women’s half marathon
Calgary’s McKenna Fitzgerald won the women’s half marathon in the time of 1:14:21 which represents a new personal best. It was a successful defence of her 2023 win. Fitzgerald is gearing up for the 2024 California International Marathon, her debut at the distance. The Sacramento-based event is a long-time favourite for west coast Canadians and Americans who attempt to qualify for the World Championships and Olympic Trails through the event.
Fitzgerald said that the day was near perfect and there was little to no wind on the return, which is unusual.
Finishing in second was Kiana Gibson in 1:15:10 and Ally Ginther with her third-place finish in 1:17:37 in her debut. Gibson and Ginther are from Vancouver, however, Ginther is currently based in Calgary.
The 8K
Aaron Ahl took the win in 23:48, which is 34 seconds off of Justin Kent’s course record. His coached asked for a 3:00/km first half.
“That I think worked out well, it was the right recommendation,” said Ahl.
Ahl will compete in the national cross country championships next month, then focus on the speciality the 3000m steeplechase.
Vancouver’s Christian Gravel finished in 23:53 for second, while John Perrier squeezed under 24 with his 23:56 finish time.
Julia Hawkins won the women’s 8K in the time of 28:07. She battled Jouen Chang and Sarah Price for much of the race. Chang, when rounding the 180-degree turnaround tripped and fell to the asphalt. She got up and finished the race hard.
Chang and Price recorded 28:16 and 28:37, respectively.
Records
Over 12,000 people registered for the event which included the BC Marathon Championships, and the Canadian Masters Athletics Championships.
A number of age group course records were set for the Half Marathon, including the two winners. Fitzgerald in the women’s 20-24 age group with her time of 1:14:21 and Davies in the men’s age group with his time of 1:03:19. Derek Brenchley (Courtenay, BC) in the men’s 65-69 with a time of 1:29:54 and Roslyn Smith (Comox, BC) at 1:49:03 breaks the women’s 75-79 course record.
The Canadian Masters Athletics Half Marathon Champions were crowned as part of the RVM, with Evgeniy Panzhinskiy (Vancouver, BC) winning the men’s gold in 1:12:06 and Eriko Soma (Vancouver, BC) taking the women’s gold in 1:19:03.
The 8K was the first race of the day with Aaron Ahl (Calgary, AB) taking the win in a time of 23:48. Coming in second was Christian Gravel (Vancouver, BC) in 23:53, followed closely by John Perrier (Vancouver, BC) in 23:56. Charlie Mlotshwa (Victoria, BC) broke the course record for men’s 16-19 with a time of 24:36. At just 16, he has a great running future ahead of him.
The RVM women’s 8K winner was Julia Hawkins (Vancouver, BC) in a time of 28:07. Jouen Cheng (Vancouver, BC) was second in 28:16, with Sarah Price (Cochrane, AB) third in 28:37.
And finally, for the 5K, which took place on Saturday in Oak Bay, the top three finishers were Russell Pearson (Calgary, AB) in 15:30, Jack Screen (Victoria, BC) in 15:38 and Michael Barber (Victoria, BC) in 16:03.
In the women’s 5K, Chantal Abbott (Collingwood, ON) won in 18:38, setting a new course record., She was followed by Hilkka Kontro (Calgary, AB) in 18:48 and Isabel Chant (Toronto, ON) in 19:30.
Of the total registrants, there were 7,442 finishers: 1,444 in the Marathon, 3,132 in the half marathon, 2,527 in the 8K, 746 in the 5K and 562 in the Thrifty Foods Kids Run. The Royal Victoria Marathon will return for its 45th annual event on October 11 & 12, 2025.
For full results go to: