2008 British Columbia Cross Country Championships

October 21, 2008

The British Columbia Athletics, Provincial Cross Country Championships take place this Saturday October 25th in Vancouver, BC. The BCs have been run every year since 1949. For 2008 Vancouver Island’s, Prairie Inn Harriers are sending some of the province’s top male athletes to contest the men's open division.

The Athletes:

Jon Brown

Jon Brown has a solid history racing cross country at a world class level. Recently he ran well on the roads, in the UK, competing in the BUPA Great North Run, Half Marathon, finishing with a time of 1:03:36. Jon’s half marathon personal best is 1:01:49.

Later this year, he will look to run a qualifying time for the 2009 IAAF World Track & Field Championships Marathon, which will take place in Berlin Germany. He will attempt this by competing in the Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship, December 7, 2008. Canadian qualifying standards range from 2:12:38 to 2:18:00 dependent on other criteria as set by Athletics Canada, in order to fill the 5 open spots on the Canadian men's marathon team.

Jon is a 3 time Olympian with 2 fourth place Olympic marathon finishes (Sydney and Athens respectively). Some if his personal bests are:

1500m - 3:40
3km – 7:45
5km - 13:19
10km - 27:18
15km - 42:39
Half marathon - 61:49
Marathon - 2:09:32

Steve Osaduik

Steve Osaduik won his third consecutive Royal Victoria Marathon, October 12, 2008 in a time of 2:25:31. His marathon personal best is 2:16:49, this happens to be the Royal Victoria Marathon course record, which he accomplished in 2006.

Osaduik finished the BC Cross Country Championships in second place in 2005 to Mark Bomba by 1 second with a time of 30:46. He finished second again in 2006 to Ryan Hayden by 3 seconds in 30:19. Thrice a brides-maid in 2007 finishing 2 seconds behind Olympic silver and gold medallist, Simon Whitfield with a 29:10 result.

Jim Finlayson

The Flying Finn raced the Toronto Scotiabank Marathon Sunday, September 28th finishing with a 2:22:15. 3 weeks later on October 12th he contested the Royal Victoria Half Marathon and finished second to Ryan Day in 1:09:11.

Finlayson has IAAF World Cross Country Championship experience, 3 times representing Canada. He was twice the Canadian Marathon Champion, 2003 and 2005. His personal bests are:

5km: 14:05
10km: 29:21
1/2 Marathon: 1:05:41
Marathon: 2:18:21

Padraig McCluskey

39 year old ‘Paddy’ originally a Cape Bretoner also has competed in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. This University of Victoria Vike Alumni, Ironman, musician and medical doctor’s personal bests are:

1,500m: 3:50
5K: 14:04
8K: 23:59
10K: 30:16
10 Miles: 53:20
½ Marathon: 1:08:32
Marathon: 2:21:13

Ryan Day

Ryan won the Royal Victoria Half Marathon October 12th in 1:08:50. His marathon personal best is 2:19:55. He also owns a 10k personal best of 30:24 and half marathon best of 1:06:23.

Todd Howard

Howard, President of the Pacific Rim College, finished second Oct 12 to Osaduik in the Royal Victoria Marathon with a finishing time of 2:28:42 after splitting the first half in 1:11:39. His personal best is 2:25:44 accomplished during the 2008 AT&T Austin Marathon.

Other possible runners representing the island club are Jason Terauchi-Loutitt , 3rd RVM finisher, Scott Simpson, Canadian 10, 000m champion 2007 and Eric Kiauka TC 10k winner 2008. As of today the following senior athletes are confirmed, a complete list is available here:

Race Last name First name Affiliation

Senior Women     Arsenault          Marilyn                          UVic Vikes
Senior Women     Attorp             Adrienne                         UVic Vikes
Senior Men          Chester            Sean                             UVic Vikes
Senior Men          Martinson          Geoff                            UVic Vikes
Senior Men          Mazzei              Darren                          UVic Vikes
Senior Men          Mazzotta            Bruno                           Kajaks
Senior Men          McKenzie           Ryan                            Windsor Legion
Senior Men          Odermatt           Craig                            Pacific Athletics
Senior Women     Skinner            Shauna
Senior Men          Swanson            Kristopher                      UVic Vikes Alumni

The race course is a circuitous 2km loop, which wends it's way through the middle of Stanley Park near downtown Vancouver, run primarily on grass.

Prize money (note: Prize money does go deeper, see BC Athletics for details)

Senior Women & Men:
First Place $500
Second Place $300
Third Place $250

________________________________________________

This article was made possible through the support of Synergy Health Clinic

Christopher Kelsall is sponsored by Island Runner Footwear, located in Victoria, BC - Check out the store's site: Island Runner.

When visiting Victoria, rent from Chris' favorite RV place CampRV

Chris is a member of the Lydiard Foundation

Contact: chriskelsall@flocasts.org

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#6	Christopher Kelsall October 26, 2008 at 11:44pm http://www.bcathletics.org/main/xcchamps.htm reply
#5	Christopher Kelsall October 26, 2008 at 2:53pm Courtesy of the Prairie Inn Harriers. News Release VICTORIANS CAPTURE BC CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS Jon Brown and Marilyn Arsenault won the senior men’s and senior women’s races at the BC Cross Country Championships at Stanley Park on Saturday hosted by Hershey Harriers and Vancouver Thunderbirds. Brown won the 10K men’s event in 31:06 with Victorians Ryan McKenzie and Geoff Martinson taking second and third in 31:35 and 32:20. Three-time RVM champion, Steve Osaduik finished fourth in 32:25. Arsenault led from wire to wire in the 6K women’s race taking the crown in 22:24. Vancouver athletes Ashley Hinther, 22:28, and Laure Maludzinski, 22:36, placed second and third. Norm Tinkham was the master men’s 8K winner in 27:34 while three-time RVM Champion, Suzanne Evans, took the master women’s 6K title in 22:56. There were over 300 runners in 13 different age division races at the BC Cross Country Championships. The race was a qualifier for selecting Team BC to compete in the National Cross Country Championships in Guelph, ON, on November 29. Partial Results Senior Men (10K) 1. Jon Brown, Prairie Inn Harriers, 31:06 2. Ryan McKenzie, Pacific Athletics, 31:35 3. Geoff Martinson, University of Victoria, 32:20 4. Steve Osaduik, Prairie Inn Harriers, 32:25 5. Dylan Gant, North Shore Athletics, 32:28 Senior Men's Teams 1. Pacific Athletics, 48 points 2. Prairie Inn Harriers, 52 points 3. University of British Columbia, 137 points Senior Women (6K) 1. Marilyn Arseneault, University of Victoria, 22:24 2. Ashley Hinther, P.R. Athletics, 22:28 3. Laura Maludzinski, Hersey Harriers, 22:36 4. Julia Howard, Valley Royals, 22:36 5. Rebecca Johnstone, Valley Royals, 22:58 Senior Women's Teams 1. Valley Royals, 29 points 2. University of Victoria, 32 points 3. Hersey Harriers, 49 points Master Men (8K) 1. Norm Tinkham, Prairie Inn Harriers, 27:34 2. Jeff Schiebler, Richmond Kajaks, 28:18 3. Hicham Elamiri, Prairie Inn Harriers, 29:20 4. Kevin O’Connor, Vancouver Falcons Athletic Club, 29:43 5. Paul Reimer, Lions Gate Road Runners, 29:58 Master Men's Teams 1. Prairie Inn Harriers, 21 points 2. Richmond Kajaks, 131 points 3. Semiahmoo Sun Runners, 142 points Master Women (6K) 1. Suzanne Evans, Phoenix Running Club, 22:56 2. Nancy Tinari, Phoenix Running Club, 23:06 3. Joan McGrath, Prairie Inn Harriers, 23:49 4. Rita Ivanauskas, Phoenix Running Club, 24:01 5. Nancy Baxendale, Prairie Inn Harriers, 24:20 Master Women's Teams 1. Phoenix Running Club, 19 points 2. Prairie Inn Harriers, 25 points 3. Ocean Athletics, 54 points reply
#4	I Want October 26, 2008 at 1:53pm Reesuuuuuults! Can't find 'em anywhere! Help us Chris, help us! reply
#3	Christopher Kelsall October 23, 2008 at 10:41am You are right. I went to change another error in that line and was rushed (life calls - my bad) thank you for pointing that out! reply
#2	Doh October 23, 2008 at 10:18am "Ryan won the Royal Victoria Half Marathon October 12th in 1:06:23." "...half marathon best of 1:07:59." Does that make sense to you? Check your facts. reply
#1	Trevor October 22, 2008 at 3:39am Just a note...the loop is a 2k loop. Could be really muddy if it rains at all. reply