Several Squamish residents made quite an impact at the first-ever Whistler Half Marathon on Saturday (June 4).
Squamishs Jeff Thompson posted the best local time, clocking in at 1 hour, 27 minutes, 37 seconds for the 21.1-kilometre run. Thompson was third out of 58 other runners in his 40 to 49 year old division and finished 20th overall.
The top Squamish female was Celina Moore, with a time of 1:37:59, good for 74th overall and 14th in her 30 to 39 group. The second fastest local male time was Jody Parry, with a time of 1:29:38, good for 30th overall and ninth in his 30 to 39 group. Fresh off his success in the Boston Marathon, Squamish resident Mike Heiliger also put together a strong run of 1:32:10. Heiliger was 39th overall for the race and second in his 50 to 59 age division.
More than 700 racers participated in the first annual event, which was won by Victoria resident Jim Finlayson. He finished the course in 1:09:25 and said he maintained a steady pace throughout.
I tried to run fairly comfortable right up until we got to Blueberry Hill and then went up the hill to see what the energy feels like for the day, he said.
Vancouvers Edward McCarthy placed second, with Burnabys Colin Wallace a close third.
A Victoria resident also took home first place in the womens division, as Care Wakely posted the top time of 1:21:04.
The course was hillier than I expected but it was good, she said. I died in the last two kilometres; I knew about the hill in the beginning but there was a couple undulating ones and the trails that really got me.
Following close behind Wakely was former Whistler resident Kristina Rody, with a 1:22:53 finish time. Amy Schneeberg from Vancouver finished third (1:23:30).
Race director Dave Clark was pleased with how the inaugural event went down.
The community was clearly very behind it, people were in the yards having drinks while watching the runners. There was a big spectator component. We really wanted something for the community to get excited about, Clark said.
He also tipped his hat to the volunteers, who helped make the event run smoothly.
We are super stoked that the community enjoyed it. An event like this doesnt [happen] without volunteers, Clark said. Its mind-boggling when I see that kind of support and that is what Whistler is about a community that stands together for great things.
Plans are already in place for the second annual event on June 2, 2012. Clark said organizers hope to increase the field size next year but will have to assess how the course accommodated the number of runners participating on Saturday.
Clark also said that registration for 2012 will be opened up online Saturday (June 11) at www.whistlerhalfmarathon.com for athletes who ran the inaugural event. Fees will be frozen at 2011 rates, and the early-bird deal is open to the first 200 returnees.
For a full list of results, visit www.racedaytiming.ca/whistlerhalf2011.html.
With files from Cori Alfreds and Eric MacKenzie, Whistler Question.
