© Copyright – 2022 – Athletics Illustrated

The athletes competing in the 35th annual Harriers Elk/Beaver Ultras in Victoria, BC came from near and far, but it was two local runners who took the 100K Canadian Championships, Saturday.

Thirty-four-year-old Tyler Shaw clocked a nine-hour, six-minute, and 29-second finish time for the win. Bonbon Reszel stopped the clock at 10:11:28 for second overall and first female. Troy Forslund took the third spot and second male in 10:22:25.

Photo credit: Joseph Cammilleri

The men’s course record is a stunning 6:46:09 by Andy Jones set in 1998. Ellie Greenwood owns the women’s course record at 7:36:40 from the 2010 edition.

The seventh-place finisher Sachin Latti of Surrey (Greater Vancouver) was in his second 100K race — in his first attempt he made it to just 45K before retiring. Latti works with law enforcement and was raising money for the Honour House of nearby New Westminster. He raised over $30,000 and previously had topped $20,000. He will be racing other ultras on the North Shore of Vancouver before attempting a run across Canada to help with the organization that helps first responders deal with loss and PTSD.

Historically, the race started at Beaver Lake, at the south end of the park, however, now runs from Elk Lake from the North. The route otherwise has not changed. The course is nearly flat with sheltered and exposed areas. Vancouver Island has set new lows in daily high temperatures for May recently. The sun did shine for the latter half of the 100K. Three other distances were offered by the host club, the Prairie Inn Harriers, 50 miles, 50 kilometres and a 40K walk option.

50K — ageless ultrarunning

Gene Lecuyer of Delta, BC took the 50K win in the time of 3:49:59. It could be said that the 50-year-old ran a kilometre for every year that he has lived. Hopefully, he continues to be alive and verticle at age 100; the Harriers will offer him a complimentary entry at that time.

Keith Wakelin of Qualicum Beach finished second overall in the time of 4:02:19. He was attempting the Canadian 60-plus record which is owned by Herb Phillips at 3:43, however, Wakelin recently fought off a bout of the flu, which derailed some of his training.

“I knew that after the first 5K the record attempt was off, but felt good enough to continue to race anyway,” said Wakelin, who happens to own the 60-64 age-group record in the 50-mile (80.46K) distance 7:43.57, which he set in 2021 at the Elk/Beaver Ultras.

Keith Wakelin of Qualicum Beach 9K into the 50K run. Photo credit: Joseph Cammilleri.

Wakelin also decided to not take in any fuel throughout the race. The practise didn’t seem to affect his pace until the very end.

“I was just taking water with electrolytes, no sugar. Didn’t seem to affect me. Typically, I suffer from cramps late in these races, but not anymore since I have upped my salt intake.”

Finishing third was Greg Courtice of Kelowna, BC. The 33-year-old clocked a 4:22:00 finish time for third overall.

Brooklyn Leifting of Duncan, BC took the women’s race in 5:02:50. Helen McArthur took second in 5:07:18. The 44-year-old master is from Victoria. Taking third was Sheila Gelinas of North Vancouver, clocking a 5:13:46 finish.

Catrin Jones of Victoria, who holds national records in ultradistance racing attempted the 100K and likely could have run well over the 10-lap course, however, at 20-weeks pregnant decided to cut the effort at 50K, as she was feeling a little off.

Course records are 3:13:13 by Victoria’s Andrew Russell from 2021 and 3:34:18 by Lori Chestnut (Bowden) set in 2000. Bowden was a two-time World Ironman Champion at the time.

The 50-mile race

Fifty-nine-year-old Steven Cologne of Vancouver won in the time of 7:44:35. Phillip Daigle of Bécancour, QC took second in 8:36:48. Wade Chison of Strathmore, AB took third in 9:54:26. Robyn Amerongen of Edmonton, AB took the women’s race in the time of 10:32:04.

Course records are 5:44:00 by Adam Campbell set in 2011 and 6:41:15 by Denis McHale from 2009.

35th ANNUAL HARRIERS ELK/BEAVER ULTRAS

Hosted by Prairie Inn Harriers Running Club – Victoria, BC, Canada – May 14, 2022

OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS

100 Kilometre Division (Canadian Championship – Men and Women)

   OA   Cat       Name                             City                              Age                  Time 

   Pos  Pos

   1       OM1     Tyler Shaw *                 Victoria, BC                  34                     9:06:29

   2       MW1    Bonbon Reszel *           Victoria, BC                  54                    10:11:28

   3       OM2     Troy Forslund               Victoria, BC                  35                    10:22:25

   4       OW1    Carolyn Caskie             Coquitlam, BC               35                    10:53:48

   5       MM1     Darren Tannas              Victoria, BC                  40                    11:23:18

   6       MM2     Paul Spencelayh           Victoria, BC                  48                    14:15:21

   7       MM3     Sachin Latti                  Surrey, BC                    44                    15:59:09           

18 runners Registered in the 100K Division, 10 Started and 7 Finished.

 *  Canadian Champions (Official 100K National Championship designated by ACU)

Men’s course record of 6:46:09 is held by Andy Jones, set in 1998.

Women’s course record of 7:36:40 is held by Ellie Greenwood, set in 2010.

50 Mile Division

   OA   Cat       Name                            City                               Age                  Time 

   Pos  Pos

   1       MM1     Steven Cologne             Vancouver, BC              59                      7:44:35

   2       OM1     Philippe Daigle              Becancour, QC             27                      8:36:48

   3       OM2     Wade Chisan                Strathmore, AB             23                      9:54:26

   4       MM2     Garrett Buckley             North Vancouver, BC     52                    10:00:38

   5       OM3     Alex Castagna              Victoria, BC                  23                    10:05:48

   6       OW1    Robyn Amerongen        Edmonton, AB               28                    10:32:04

   7       MM3     Ben Bundy                    Los Angeles, CA           43                    11:21:48

10 runners Registered in the 50 Mile Division, 8 Started and 7 Finished.

Men’s course record of 5:44:00 is held by Adam Campbell, set in 2011.

Women’s course record of 6:41:15 is held by Denise McHale, set in 2009.

50 Kilometre Division

   OA   Cat       Name                            City                               Age                  Time 

   Pos  Pos

   1       MM1     Gene Lecuyer               Delta, BC                      50                    3:49:59

   2       MM2     Keith Wakelin               Qualicum Beach, BC     63                    4:02:19

   3       OM1     Greg Courtice               Kelowna, BC                 33                    4:22:23

   4       OM2     Douglas Ferreiara Alves Toronto, ON                  30                    4:26:30

   5       OM3     Greg Gardner               Victoria, BC                  39                    4:32:09

   6       OM4     Jesse Butler                  Duncan, BC                  35                    4:49:57

   7       MM3     Jason Hare                   Nanaimo, BC                49                    4:50:51

   8       MW1    Brooklyn Liefting           Duncan, BC                  43                    5:02:50

   9       MM4     Ben Nishi                      Surrey, BC                    43                    5:06:21

  10       MW2    Helen McArthur             Victoria, BC                  44                    5:07:18

11        MW3    Sheila Gelinas              North Vancouver, BC     46                    5:13:46

12        OM5     Leon Breton                  Victoria, BC                  31                    5:26:36

13        MM5     Andy Bachmann            Pitt Meadows, BC          56                    5:31:19

14        MM6     Stephen Gould              Powell River, BC           63                    5:31:56

15        OM6     Sheldon Robinson         Brentwood Bay, BC       34                    5:37:29

16        MM8     Bill Morrison                 Dallas, TX                    49                    5:48:32

17        OW1    Melissa Freeman           Courtney, BC                27                    5:53:53

18        MM9     Graham Paul                Burnaby, BC                 56                    5:55:50

19        MM10   Dave Colley                  Hornby Island, BC         73                    6:15:28

20        OM7     Joel Clary                     North Saanich, BC        33                    6:17:57

21        OW2    Kelsea Stothard            Victoria, BC                  24                    6:59:52

39 runners Registered in the 50K Division, 25 Started and 21 Finished.

Men’s course record of 3:13:21 is held by Niels Madsen, set in 1999.

Women’s course record of 3:34:18 is held by Lori Bowden, set in 2000.

40 Kilometre Division (Walkers Only)

   OA   Cat       Name                            City                               Age                  Time 

   Pos  Pos

   1       MW1    Hilary Thomas              Calgary, AB                  50                    6:02:18

   2       MW2    Jan Goyette                  Vernon, BC                   71                    7:21:25

   3       MM1     Bill Courtice                  Calgary, BC                  65                    7:33:23

   4       MW3    Leslie Ann Bent             Shirley, BC                   59                    7:57:07

10 Walkers Registered in the 40 Kilometre Division, 5 Started and 4 Finished.

Men’s course record of 4:31:16 is held by Glenn Jaques, set in 1997.

Women’s course record of 4:59:41 is held by Alice Dean, set in 2021.

50 Mile Division

   OA   Cat       Name                            City                               Age                  Time 

   Pos  Pos

   1       MM1     Steven Cologne             Vancouver, BC              59                      7:44:35

   2       OM1     Philippe Daigle              Becancour, QC             27                      8:36:48

   3       OM2     Wade Chisan                Strathmore, AB             23                      9:54:26

   4       MM2     Garrett Buckley             North Vancouver, BC     52                    10:00:38

   5       OM3     Alex Castagna              Victoria, BC                  23                    10:05:48

   6       OW1    Robyn Amerongen        Edmonton, AB               28                    10:32:04

   7       MM3     Ben Bundy                    Los Angeles, CA           43                    11:21:48

50 Kilometre Division

   OA   Cat       Name                            City                               Age                  Time 

   Pos  Pos

   1       MM1     Gene Lecuyer               Delta, BC                      50                    3:49:59

   2       MM2     Keith Wakelin               Qualicum Beach, BC     63                    4:02:19

   3       OM1     Greg Courtice               Kelowna, BC                 33                    4:22:00

   4       OM2     Douglas Ferreiara Alves Toronto, ON                  30                    4:26:30

   5       OM3     Greg Gardner               Victoria, BC                  39                    4:32:09

   6       OM4     Jesse Butler                  Duncan, BC                  35                    4:49:57

   7       MM3     Jason Hare                   Nanaimo, BC                49                    4:50:51

   8       MW1    Brooklyn Liefting           Duncan, BC                  43                    5:02:50

   9       MM4     Ben Nishi                      Surrey, BC                    43                    5:06:21

  10       MW2    Helen McArthur             Victoria, BC                  44                    5:07:18

11        MW3    Sheila Gelinas              North Vancouver, BC     46                    5:13:46

12        OM5     Leon Breton                  Victoria, BC                  31                    5:26:36

13        MM5     Andy Bachmann            Pitt Meadows, BC          56                    5:31:19

14        MM6     Stephen Gould              Powell River, BC           63                    5:31:56

15        MM7     Darren Tannis               Victoria, BC                  40                    5:37:24

16        OM6     Sheldon Robinson         Brentwood Bay, BC       34                    5:37:29

17        MM8     Bill Morrison                 Dallas, TX                    49                    5:48:32

18        OW1    Melissa Freeman           Courtney, BC                27                    5:53:53

19        MM9     Graham Paul                Burnaby, BC                 56                    5:55:50

20        MM10   Dave Colley                  Hornby Island, BC         73                    6:15:28

21        OM7     Joel Clary                     North Saanich, BC        33                    6:17:57

22        OW2    Kelsea Stothard            Victoria, BC                  24                    6:59:52

40 Kilometre Division (Walkers Only)

   OA   Cat       Name                            City                               Age                  Time 

   Pos  Pos

   1       MW1    Hilary Thomas              Calgary, AB                  50                    6:02:18

   2       MW2    Jan Goyette                  Vernon, BC                   71                    7:21:25

   3       MM1     Bill Courtice                  Calgary, BC                  65                    7:33:23

   4       MW3    Leslie Ann Bent             Shirley, BC                   59                    7:57:07