© Copyright – 2025 – Athletics Illustrated

Russell Pennock and Jamie Hennessey won the 2025 Harriers Pioneer 8K, the first race of the Vancouver Island Race Series.

Pennock finished in a personal best time of 24:01, while Hennessey broke the finish banner in 27:48, a two-second personal best.

Men’s race

Pennock led from gun to tape, however, he was with several runners for the first half of the race. The course offers gentle undulations, Pennock took advantage, taking a commanding lead after the halfway 180-degree turnaround at 4K.

Russell Pennock post-race interview

From there the top six who all finished under 25 minutes and a total of 11 under 26, began to spread out into a single file run for the finish.

“I was ahead, but I could hear them breathing,” said Pennock. “It’s a great course, and I took advantage of a couple of downhill in the second half, including somewhere between kilometres five and six.”

Pennock, a former University of Victoria Vike and University of Calgary Dino will now concentrate on the First Half half-marathon in Vancouver in February. From there he will set his sites on the BMO Vancouver Marathon.

Rounding out the top three were Brandon Vail in 24:16 with a personal best and Gabe Van Hezewijk in 24:23. Both former University of Victoria Vikes, while Vail now runs for Speedfarm.

Women’s race

Greater Vancouver’s Jamie Hennessey ran a personal best 27:48 and finished in 23rd position overall. It was her first Vancouver Island Race Series win and a good performance that will boost confidence for her First Half half-marathon in February. She will then run the Eugene Marathon at the end of April.

Jamie Hennessey post-race interview

The Norm’s Athletic Club athlete will look to improve her personal best in the half marathon, which she ran in February 2024 at 1:17:31.

Finishing in second place was new Sidneysider Sarah Price, who moved from Canmore, Alberta to the island city in 2024. Price finished in a new personal best time of 28:32. Taking third was Maia Watson, who is now focussed on the triathlon, as per her mother Lucy Smith, who also took in the race. Watson clocked a 28:41 performance.

Smith won the race four times with her fastest Pioneer 8K performance coming in 1992 with her 26:29 finish time.

Seven women finished sub-30.

There were 666 finishers in 2025, the most in 33 years. And the third most in the history of the event.

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