FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New marathon champion crowned and two 8K course records set
at the 40th Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon
(Victoria, BC - October 14, 2019) Perfect fall weather conditions greeted
over 8,000 participants in Sunday's 40th annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria
Marathon. Eric Finan and Andrea Lee won the marathon distance, Will Norris
and Cleo Boyd the half marathon and two course records were set in the 8K
by Justin Kent and Sarah Inglis. The marathon had 1,471 registrants; the
half marathon 3,431; the 8K Turkey Trot Road Race 2,505; and the Thrifty
Foods Kids Run 887, for a total of 8,294.
Finan, from Eugene, Oregon, dominated the men's race finishing in 2:17:51,
the fastest time for five years since the record was set in 2013 by Lamech
Mokono (2:13:42). It was Finn's first marathon win and he loved the course
and the views. Ahead most of the time, at 32 kilometres he inched ahead of
Kenyan Jonathan Kipchirchir Chesoo to win. Chesoo was second in 2:20:40,
and third with a new master's course record was Kip Kangogo in 2:21:49.
Kangogo also set an age group record in the M40-44 category.
For Lee it was fourth time lucky, winning her first marathon title after
coming in third in 2018 and 2016 and second in 2017. It was nearly a photo
finish, with Victoria's Catrin Jones coming in on hard on her heels. Lee
hit the tape at 2:46:45 and Jones who was top master, in 2:46:58. "I knew
Catrin was behind me but I didn't know how far," said Lee afterwards. The
Black Creek native, who now lives in North Vancouver, loves the race. "I
stayed in my comfort zone and tried to run a steady and comfortable pace
and not take any chances." Third was Madeline Yungblut from Clifford,
Ontario in 2:53:27. Roslyn Smith in the W70-74 set a new age group and
Canadian record, finishing in 3:52:16. In April of this year she won her
age category in the Boston Marathon.
Peter Field won the Visually Impaired category in 4:37:50.
In the half marathon Norris, from Spirit Lake, Iowa won in 1:06:20, second
was Kevin Colon from Seattle in 1:07:31, and third was Julian Florez from
Albuquerque in 1:07:36. There was one age category record, M65-69 Larry
Ness (1:30:20). Top male master was Jim Finlayson from Victoria with a time
of 1:12:29. Boyd, from Kingston, Ontario was the clear winner in the
women's race with a three-minute lead over Portland's Theresa Hailey. A
10,000 metre specialist, Boyd won in 1:13:38, also setting a new age
category record in the W25-29. It was her first run in Victoria: "the views
were unreal and I would love to come back," she said. Hailey was second in
1:16:15. Third was Danielle Thiel from Edmonton in 1:17:55. Top master was
Seattle's Heather Tanner (1:25:20). There were two other age category
records: W60-64, Kathi Sleavin (1:33:53), and W65-69, Lois Klingbell
(1:43:03).
The half marathon was also the BC Half Marathon Championships. Sean Chester
won the men's title (1:12:07) and Lisa Brooking the women's title
(1:18:32).
Brad Hartley won the Wheelchair category in 1:28:15.
History was made in both the male and female 8K races with two new course
records. Kent, from Burnaby, won his third straight title, winning in
23:14, and breaking Gary Barber's course record 1989 (23:23). It was also a
M25-29 age category record. Second and third were photo finishes with Nick
Walker from Victoria just finishing ahead of Vancouver's Nicholas Brown in
25:31. Brown was seconds behind with a time of 25:34. Top master was Mark
Cryderman from Campbell River (26:49).
Great Britain's Inglis won her second 8K title in a row and also set a
course record, breaking Ulla Marquette's record from 1991 (26:24). "I
didn't expect to go that fast," she said afterwards. Her time was 25:43 and
was also a W25-29 age category record. Second was four-time 8K winner
Lindsay Carson (Burnaby) in 27:32 and third was Maor Tiyouri from Boulder,
Colorado in 27:46. Victoria's Jen Millar won the female masters title
(29:18). There was one other age category award: W50-54, Marilyn Arsenault
in 29:22.
There were 7,141 finishers: 1,127 in the Marathon, 2,889 in the Half
Marathon, 2,232 in the 8K, plus 887 in the Thrifty Foods Kids Run.
For full results from the 40th Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon go
to: www.runvictoriamarathon.com/results
The 41st Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon will take place on
October 11th, 2020.
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