Royal Victoria 8K men’s record may be under threat on Sunday, October 13

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The Royal Victoria 8K men’s course and event record currently held by Surrey, British Columbia’s Justin Kent sits at 23:14, from his 2019 running. Kent improved Gary Barber’s long-standing record from 1989 which was 23:23.

Kent’s record may be under threat on Sunday, October 13 at the 44^th running of the Royal Victoria Marathon, Half Marathon and 8K.

While the marathon and half-marathon events are long sold out, the 8K continues to receive entries but is filling up fast.

The top seeds

The top seed currently is Aaron Ahl from Calgary, AB. The 25-year-old 3000m steeplechase specialist ran the event as fast as 8:28.00 and the 5000m event in 14:45.79.

Asked about his goal for the race and his seasonal plans he said, “The 8K at the Royal Victoria Marathon is an important step toward my fall calendar. It will be an important steppingstone on my goal for the season which is to win the Canadian Cross Country Championships.”

The championships will take place on November 30, in London, ON.

Hot on his heels will be John Perrier. Perrier, like Ahl, will be focused on the cross-country season this fall. He will be taking in both the BC Cross Country Championships, and the Canadian Cross Country Championships.

“After having to sit out my summer track season to deal with some lingering injuries I am really excited to be back racing,” said Perrier. “My goal for this season is to have fun competing with the leaders in road and cross-country races. I will be racing the BC Provincial Cross Country Championships (BCXC) as well as Athletics Canada Cross Country Championships (ACXC). I’m hoping to complete the RVM 8K in around 24 minutes.”

While the goal does not sound like a threat to Kent’s record, if he is racing with the leaders, Perrier will be in the position to take advantage of his speed. His personal best over 5000m is 13:58.95. After the turnaround on the out-and-back course, the final 3K is downhill and flat.

Perrier may have sat out the summer track season, but he had a fast winter having raced the First Half (half-marathon) in Vancouver. He finished in the time of 65:13 to set a new personal best over the distance.

The two Canadians will have to deal with James Sigura. The Rwandan who now lives in Kentucky is a former NCAA regional champion. While his 5000m personal best is a little aged, it is very fast at 13:37.88 from 2019. In 2017, he ran the 8K in 23:11 in Germany.

Sigura is looking to return to form this year, starting with the Royal Victoria 8K. However, he began his inquiry by seeking a spot in the half marathon. The 27-year-old feels he can finish in 61 minutes. Sugira boasts a personal best of 64 minutes which was run at altitude.

A number of local athletes will toe the line including several members of the University of Victoria Vikes, led by Gabe Van Hezewijk.

The marathon started in 1980, the 8K was added in 1986 and the half-marathon race was included in 2001. The weekend now includes a 5K race in nearby Oak Bay, on Saturday, which was launched successfully last year.