The 37th annual Victoria Track Classic took place Sunday, June 22, at the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium. It was an afternoon affair offering competitive races over the 100 metre sprints up to the 3000m and field events.
Men’s 3000m
Melbourne, Australia’s Jaryd Clifford won the men’s 3000 metre race at the annual Victoria Track Classic on Sunday, clocking a time of 8:08.36.
The performance was a little off his personal best over the distance, but he did run alone for the final 2.5 laps and finished into a headwind.
Meanwhile, Calgary Spartan Matthew Travaglini clocked in an 812.23 run for second, and Ian Eichler with the University of Regina took third in 8:14.71.
Clifford is a para-athlete with vision impairment.
“I am fine with the results, it is cool out, I just came from altitude at Flagstaff, Arizona and just decided to do the race after asking some friends if there are any races around,” shared Clifford. “I am heading back to Melbourne in a couple of weeks.”
“My best came at the Sydney Track Classic, so I was dragged around with a very fast group, to a fast time. I think this is as good a result considering the conditions.”
Women’s 3000m
In the women’s 3000m Marisha Thompson with the Victoria Endurance Track Club clocked 9:37.53 for the win. Finishing in second place was Sarah MacGillivray with the Vancouver Thunderbirds in 9:46.17. Taking third was fellow Thunderbird Kiana Gibson, close behind in 9:46.29.
At the Dempsey Indoor meet in Seattle back in January, Thompson clocked her personal best of 9:20.38. She was looking to repeat that time but ran alone for the second half of the race. The pacer took her to halfway.
“I had a great first half,” shared Thompson. “But it was hard to stay focused that long for all of the second half of the race.”
Thompson is a 3000m steeplechase specialist. Her best is 10:25.88 from May 2024 at Eugene, Oregon’s Hayward Field. The Victoria Endurance Club is headed by Hilary Stellingwerff, coach of the University of Victoria Vikes.
North American record set in F33 javelin
In the seated Javelin event, class F33, para-athlete Julia Hanes set a Canadian and North American record, throwing 16.65m. She fouled twice, however, also threw for 16.54m, 16.19m and 15.97m.
Hanes, a Vancouver-based physician, is also a noted shot-put athlete, having put the Canadian record several time,s including her best of 7.06m.
Hanes also plays wheelchair rugby and helped team Canada to a bronze medal at the Women’s World Cup in 2017.
