FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Women's Master Record Set at the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon
(Victoria, BC - October 12, 2014) Calm, cool and cloudy conditions greeted
nearly 10,000 runners today in the 35th Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria
Marathon. Although no overall course records were broken, a new Women's
Masters record was set by the Women's Winner - Lioudmila Kortchaguina. The
men's race was won by Daniel Kipkoech who had a seven minute lead at the
finish line. The Marathon had 1,900 registrants, the Half Marathon: 4,499,
the 8K Road Race: 2,724 and the Thrifty Foods Kids Run: 859, for a total of
9,982.
Number two seed Kipkoech, who trains in Lethbridge, Alberta, dominated the
race - winning in 2:20:04 - not allowing top seed Thomas Omwenga to be a
serious threat. He went out fast, aiming for a 2:10 finish but at five
kilometres he reduced his pace. "I felt the cool wind off the water and
reduced my pace," Kipkoech said. "I probably hadn't recovered from running
the Montreal Half Marathon last week, where it was hot and humid. I would
like to come back next year and run a 2:10." Omwenga, from Hamilton,
Ontario, and the 2011 and 2012 champion, came second in 2:27:09. Third and
top Master was Oliver Utting from Burnaby, BC in 2:29:02.
The women's race had high expectations with 2013 champion, Victoria's
Catrin Jones returning and Lioudmila Kortchaguina, top master at the 2013
Canadian Marathon Championships, making her first appearance in the
Victoria Marathon. Kortchaguina won in 2:41:39, a Masters course record
(the old record was set by Cheryl Murphy in 2009). Eva Vail, from Portland,
Oregon, was second in 2:45:54. This was Vail's debut marathon and she is
coached by husband and US Marathon runner Ryan Vail. Jones was third in
2:46:51. Kortchaguina also won the new "Top Canadian Citizen" prize for a
total pay day of $6,000. Oliver Utting was Top Canadian Citizen in the
men's race.
The Half Marathon was won by Willy Kimosop - his first win in Victoria
after placing third in 2012 and 2013. His time of 1:06 was just under a
minute shy of his personal best. Dancan Kasia from Etobicoke, Ontario, was
second in 1:08:24 and third was Ramiro Guillen from Goleta, California in
1:08:32. Victoria's Jim Finlayson was the top Master with a time of
1:10:04.
The women's Half Marathon was won by Anne-Marie Madden from Vancouver in
1:16:35. She triumphed over two local favourites, and Masters athletes,
Marilyn Arsenault (1:17:04) and Lucy Smith (1:19:48). Madden tried not to
go out too fast in the beginning. "My legs were stiff to start but then I
settled into a breathing pattern which helped," she said. "Marilyn was
ahead but I caught her at 15K and felt really strong." Arsenault was the
top Master.
The 8K saw ex-Victoria native Geoff Martinson win in 23:38, just 15 seconds
short of the course record and the third fastest time ever. Now living in
Vancouver, BC, Martinson was very pleased with his race. "I felt very
strong and I think I am going to have a good season," he said. Kevin
Friesen, also from Vancouver, was second in 24:35, and third was Calgary's
Trevor Hofbauer in 25:10. Victoria's Bruce Deacon won the Masters in 25:44
- a new record, beating the record he set in 2013 (26:10).
Lindsay Carson from Whitehorse,Yukon, won the Women's race in 27:15. Second
was Sarah Macpherson (Victoria) in 29:29 and third and top Master was
three-time Xterra champion, Melanie McQuaid in 29:56.
In addition to Kortchaguina's Masters record, a Marathon age-class record
was set in the W60-64 by Lee Anderson, from Calgary, Alberta, in 3:32:38.
In the Half Marathon, Allison Penner set a new record in the W-Under 19 -
1:25:21; Marilyn Arsenault's time of 1:17:04 was a new W45-49 record. In
the 8K, in addition to Bruce Deacon's new Masters record, Nancy Baxendale
set a W50-54 record of 30:49.
There were 8,592 finishers - 1,569 in the Marathon, 3,798 in the Half
Marathon, 2,366 in the 8K, and 859 in the Thrifty Foods Kids Run.
For full results from the 35th Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon go
to: http://www.runvictoriamarathon.com/After-The-Race/Results.aspx
The 36th Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon will take place on
October 11th, 2015.
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