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Couple from Squamish claim podium at trail race

Jessie McAuley and Paige Fanzone take first and second
Trail
In the left picture, Jessie McAuley talks with a race organizer about his win. To the right, Paige Fanzone exchanges high-fives after a podium-worthy performance.

A young Squamish couple ran their way to the podium during the Whistler Alpine Meadows 12-kilometre trail running race.

Jessie McAuley and his partner Paige Fanzone both were able to capture first and second in their respective categories.

McAuley managed to come out on top of all 119 participants despite the fact many of the other racers had more experience. 

As a newcomer to the scene, this was the first time the 17-year-old Howe Sound Secondary student competed in a trail running race.

However, he said that as he put his foot on the start line, the experience was at once both new and familiar.

Because he’s already tried his hand at racing in mountain biking events, the competitive atmosphere wasn’t new to him.

However, he couldn’t help but notice the competitors looked like seasoned runners. 

“It was all sort of new to me, and looking around seeing all these tall, super-fit looking middle aged guys — it made me a little nervous, but I was also really excited at the same time,” said McAuley.

A little bit of nervousness didn’t stop him from going a long way – McAuley put in a strong performance, winning first place overall. His closest competitor was trailing behind by a time of five minutes and 14 seconds.

Perhaps the toughest part of the race for McAuley was the last four kilometres.

“I didn’t know I had a big lead on the guy in second place, so I kept pushing really hard when I could’ve been resting,” said McAuley. “The last section was tough.”

Trail running can present a number of difficulties. 

Roots, rocks and steep terrain can prove to be unfamiliar hurdles for those who grew up racing track and field.

McAuley said he didn’t follow a set training schedule, but spending lots of time in the mountains doing various sports has put him in running shape.

“I would like to keep going with this,” he said. “I had a ton of fun this race.”

But McAuley wasn’t the only one to put in a strong performance.

Fanzone, also a Squamish resident, managed to achieve success with a silver medal in the women’s division.

While she did not reply to requests for comment by press deadline, her numbers speak for themselves.

Her success also arrives at the young age.  She’s in the same age group as McAuley  and she was pitted against seasoned runners with many more years of experience. Fanzone was one minute and 42 seconds behind the racer who placed first in the women’s division. She managed to beat the bronze medalist by 14 seconds.

 

 

 

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