Two marathoners upgraded last year鈥檚 silver medals to gold in the 45th running of the 麻豆传媒映画Marathon, held Sunday, May 1.
Daniel Kipkoech was the fastest racer, covering the 42.2-kilometre course in a time of two hours, 21 minutes and four seconds. In 2015, the Kenyan came second to compatriot Luka Chelimo who set a course record of 2:18:37 as the fastest on this current, neighbourhood-focused iteration of Canada鈥檚 longest continuous marathon. The accolade-laden marathon course begins at Queen Elizabeth Park, heads west to Pacific Spirit Park, around the point to Kitsilano and over the Burrard Bridge to Stanley Park before finally finishing downtown.
Ethiopia鈥檚 Habteselassa Lemma Gemechu came second overall in 2:23:29, and Ryan Day, an elected chief with the Bonaparte Indian Band of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, finished third in 2:36:44 as the fastest B.C. resident.
Neither Chelimo nor defending women鈥檚 champion Lioudmila Kortchaguina were in 麻豆传媒映画to win back their title.
Hirut Guangul was the fastest woman in the long-distance foot race and came seventh overall in 2:39:52. The Ethiopian racer beat Texan Allison Macsas who was second in 2:42:07 and North Vancouver鈥檚 Ellie Greenwood who came third in 2:45:21
The overall winner of the 21.1-kilometre half-marathon, Kenyan Paul Kimugul won his third title, this one in 1:05:01 but off the pace of the course record, which he set in 2014 at 1:02:36. At the finish line, he embraced his two-year old daughter Lynn, who is named after the BMO 麻豆传媒映画Marathon elite athlete coordinator, Lynn Kanuka.
Jane Murage, also Kenyan and the female course record holder, defended her 2015 win in 1:14:41. She was followed by Jerotich Lenah and Lisa Brooking.
The half-marathon course takes a separate course downtown along Cambie Street.
In the B.C. half-marathon championships, the top men and women raced for the provincial title. Langley鈥檚 Brooking won the women鈥檚 division in 1:16:03. In a news release, she said Sunday鈥檚 race was 鈥渇abulous.鈥�
鈥淚t was such a beautiful day, great course, good crowds,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely one of my favourite half-marathons, just because of the scenery and it really showcases 麻豆传媒映画well. The time just passes, the kilometers just kind of click by.鈥�
麻豆传媒映画Falcons Athletic Club runner Neasa Coll and Ellen Chappell, now living in 麻豆传媒映画by way of Calgary and the University of Dalhousie, came second and third places, respectively, in the B.C. race.
Terence Attema, of Smithville, won the men鈥檚 B.C. championships with a time of 1:07:02. He was followed by Victoria鈥檚 Jim Finlayson, who is 43, and Vancouver鈥檚 Jerry Ziak.
In the eight-kilometre race, which followed a course through Stanley Park, one of the age-group winners was the three-time champion of very first installments of the 麻豆传媒映画International Marathon. Tom Howard, the winner of the 1972, 鈥�73, and 鈥�74 events won the men鈥檚 65-69 category in 36:42.
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