Ideal weather and running conditions were very much to David Eikelboom and Claire Young香蕉视频直播檚 liking for the 23rd running edition of the BMO Okanagan Marathon.
Eikleboom, from Whitehorse, and Young, from Kelowna, captured their respective marathon titles Sunday in Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 City Park.
Eikelboom fell just short of the course record, winning his first Okanagan Marathon in a time of two hours 34 minutes 27 seconds.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a beautiful course. Normally I do well on hilly courses so I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 totally sure how a flat one would go,香蕉视频直播� Eikelboom said.
香蕉视频直播淚 spent a lot of time studying the course map and the elevation profile. Plus being from Whitehorse helped me be able to run in today香蕉视频直播檚 the slightly cooler temperatures.香蕉视频直播�
Edmonton香蕉视频直播檚 Brian York placed second in the men香蕉视频直播檚 marathon at 2:39:03, while Darryl Vanderwoude, also of Edmonton, placed third in a time of 2:39:52.
In the women香蕉视频直播檚 marathon, an ecstatic Young crossed the finish line with a time of 3:06:12
香蕉视频直播淭his is my first and only race this year,香蕉视频直播� Young said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 over the moon, I didn香蕉视频直播檛 expect to win that香蕉视频直播檚 for sure.香蕉视频直播�
Following in second place was Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Genevieve Cauffope coming in at 3:06:49 and Megan Brown, running a time of 3:07:43.
The men香蕉视频直播檚 Half Marathon saw a new champion as Jordan Van Besouw of West Kelowna finished first at 1:20:03. The win caught Van Besouw by surprise.
香蕉视频直播淭his was supposed to be a [final pre-race] training run 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檓 running the New York Marathon in 3 weeks. So this is great.香蕉视频直播�
Spectators and cheer stations lined the course to cheer on the racers who experienced great conditions all morning. Placing second was Artur Wojtas of Calgary with a time of 1:23:55, followed by Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Jacob Harris in at 1:25:01.
Taking the women香蕉视频直播檚 Half Marathon was Calgary香蕉视频直播檚 Deb Russell, with a time of 1:20:57. Russell was delighted to run a personal best time.
香蕉视频直播淚 took just more than a minute off my previous best so I香蕉视频直播檓 really happy with my time.香蕉视频直播�
Sarah MacArthur of Calgary finished second with a time of 1:23:03, and Winnipeg香蕉视频直播檚 Gina Tranquada finished third at 1:29:05.
Brock Hoel from West Kelowna won the 10km men香蕉视频直播檚 run in a time of 34:41. It was Hoel香蕉视频直播檚 second time running the race, 香蕉视频直播淚t was perfect running conditions this year and I was about a minute faster than last year 香蕉视频直播� so I feel really good.香蕉视频直播� First place in the women香蕉视频直播檚 event went to Coldstream香蕉视频直播檚 Erica Casey who ran a time of 40:14.
Nearly 3,000 people from six different countries took part in the event, which drew crowds and runners of all ages, from 7 to 81, including one family who had a grandfather, mother and granddaughter running in the 10 km.
Olympic race walker Mat Bilodeau participated in the half marathon this year, as did double lung transplant recipient Andrew Brownell, who was pushed in his wheelchair by his twin sister Anna the 21 km to the finish line.
香蕉视频直播淲e are so grateful to the residents of Kelowna who have supported this event and really allowed it to grow,香蕉视频直播� says race director Tom Keogh. 香蕉视频直播淲e are so pleased to see such a diverse range of age and abilities in our runners 香蕉视频直播� it truly has become a weekend the whole family can enjoy.香蕉视频直播�
Over the years, the BMO Okanagan Marathon has raised more than $386,000 for The Sunshine Foundation of Canada, including ongoing and significant contributions through fundraising activities organized by the regional BMO employees. The national charity has fulfilled 8,000 dreams across Canada, in their 29-year history.
For complete results from the BMO Okanagan Marathon, visit or
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