(C) Copyright - 2008 - Christopher Kelsall

Royal Victoria Marathon – September 30, 2008 – Victoria, BC – Women’s course record on the line at the 2008 Royal Victoria Marathon.

Women's record

Cheryl Murphy of Victoria, BC may take down the Royal Victoria Marathon (RVM) course record Sunday, October 12, 2008 when she races the 29th annual event.

She is looking to continue running well in anticipation of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin, (‘Berlin 2009’).

Murphy’s debut marathon performance was outstanding, Saturday March 1, 2008 at the Snickers Marathon Bar, Marathon in Albany, Georgia. She finished 2nd to Kenyan, Janet Cherobon to place 8th overall in 2:40:12, nearly 3 minutes under Athletics Canada criteria (see below). Janet finished 5th overall in 2:37:27. Cheryl's time was the fastest Canadian women's marathon recorded in 2008 at that time.

Cheryl also ran a string of solid road races this spring including the Vancouver Sun Run and Victoria’s TC 10k, finishing a close second to Lisa Harvey with a time of 34:14.

Current RVM course record 2:42:32 is held by Val Chowaniec, which she accomplished in 1989.

Cheryl stands to make $6500 with the course record.

Murphy has competed and again qualified for the World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii for 2008. She competed in the World Duathlon Championships as a member of Canada's national duathlon team.

Men's record

Steve Osaduik already owns the Royal Victoria Marathon course record of 2:16:49. This record stood so long, the local daily newspaper ran a full front page photo, complete with headline in large red script proclaiming 'the Wizardry of Oz' (Osaduik).

Osaduik missed racing in spring 2008 in his attempts to qualify for the Beijing Olympics as he was hampered by his first serious injury. He is back and ready to race after a summer of steady training. If Steve wins this year, this will be 3 consecutive Royal Victoria wins, two shy of Kelvin Broad’s record of 5 straight and tying Phil Nicholls with his 3 victories. Victorian, Nicholls has several top 5 finishes at Royal Victoria.

Weather seems to play a factor in many marathons, Victoria is not immune however, it is doubtful that heat will be a problem. Unfortunately swirling winds and warm temperatures hampered a few Canadian’s efforts at the recent Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, which was contested Sunday, September 28th. The heat, during the May 24th ING Ottawa Marathon also put on hold a few dreams.

Below are Canadian standards, with emphasis placed on running a qualifying time at the latter two marathons. There remains a few qualifying spots on the Athletics Canada marathon team for Berlin 2009. Two more may be filled officially, after the running of the Royal Victoria Marathon October 12, 2008.

Standards

Canadian athletes will be selected until the team quota is filled (5 per team) based on
performances in the priority order listed below*. Only performances achieved between January

1st, 2008 and May 24th, 2009 that meet IAAF criteria will be considered.

1. Run under 2:12:38 (men)/2:29:08 (women) in the 2008 and/or 2009 Ottawa ING
Marathon and/or the 2008 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

2. The top-ranked athlete, within the AC qualifying period, with performance of 2:12:38
(men)/2:29:08(women) in any other IAAF sanctioned marathon.

3. Top Canadian finisher at the 2008 or 2009 Ottawa ING marathon and/or 2008 Scotiabank
Toronto Waterfront Marathon in under 2:15:00 (men)/2:34:00 (women).

4. Other athlete with a performance under 2:12:38 (men)/2:29:08 (women) within the AC
qualifying period at any other IAAF sanctioned marathon.

5. The top Canadian finisher at the 2008 or 2009 Ottawa ING marathon and/or 2008 Scotiabank
Toronto Waterfront Marathon, with 2:18:00/2:43:00 achieved within the AC qualifying
period.

6. Other athlete (no more than 1 man or woman) identified as a ‘Rising Star’ under the AC
regular criteria.

7. 2nd Canadian finisher at the 2008 or 2009 Ottawa ING marathon and/or 2008 Scotiabank
Toronto Waterfront Marathon in under 2:18:00 (men)/2:43:00 (women)

8. 3rd Canadian finisher at the 2008 or 2009 Ottawa ING marathon and/or 2008 Scotiabank
Toronto Waterfront Marathon in under 2:18:00 (men)/2:43:00 (women)

9. Performance of 2:18:00 (men)/2:43:00 (women) within the AC qualifying period

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Contact Chris: chriskelsall@flocasts.org