© 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.

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.

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