Osaduik, Murphy Win Royal Victoria Marathon
Posted Wednesday, 15 October, 2008
From Louise Hodgson-Jones
VICTORIA, BC, Canada - (October 12, 2008) - Sunday's 29th Royal Victoria Marathon held under unseasonably warm, sunny skies saw Steve Osaduik win his third successive men's marathon title and witnessed a new World Record in the women's 80-84 category. In the largest Royal Victoria Marathon event ever held - 10,395 registered for the Marathon, the Half Marathon, 8K Road Race and the Thrifty Foods Kids Run - the marathon also saw an additional three age group course records set.
Langley-based Osaduik won the men's marathon in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 31 seconds after a one-two battle with Jason Terauchi-Loutitt for most of the race. Osaduik, however, pulled away with Terauchi-Loutitt fading to third place in a time of 2:31:13. Victoria's Todd Howard came a strong second in 2:28:43.
In the women's race, Cheryl Murphy, who was aiming to break the 20-year-old course record of 2:42:32, narrowly missed her goal, but did set the F35-39 age group record finishing in 2:43:01. It was also the third fastest women's time in the event's 29 year history. Wendy Terris from Milwaukie, Ore. was second in 2:48:04, and Vancouver's Katherine Moore third in 2:54:12. Fourth placed Joan McGrath from New Westminster set a women's 45-49 age group record in 2:56:33. Cindy Rhodes from Kelowna, BC set a women's 50-54 age group record in 3:09:27.
Betty-Jean McHugh from North Vancouver made history by setting a World Record in the women's 80-84 category. Her time of 4:36:52 was nearly 13 minutes faster than the previous record. This remarkable achievement follows her setting the F75-79 World Record at Victoria in 2003 in 4:10:07.
McHugh felt confident and strong on the course. "I was aiming for 4:30 but very happy with my result - it's better than staying home and cooking turkey," she said.
In the Half Marathon, favorite Ryan Day from Vancouver won in 1:08:50. Victoria's Jim Finlayson - who ran the Toronto Waterfront Marathon two weeks ago in 2:22:15 - came second in 1:09:11, and Jason Warick from Saskatoon came third in 1:09:22. In the women's field Calgary's Lindsay McLaren won in 1:21:38, Laura De Munain from Vancouver was runner-up (1:24:03) and Natalie Ball, also from Vancouver finished third (1:24:20).
In the 8K road race, it was a sweep for Victoria runners taking eight out of the top ten places. Ryan McKenzie won in 23:56, Scott Simpson was second in 24:22 and third was Olympic triathlon silver medalist Simon Whitfield in 24:30. In the women's field, Richmond, BC's Rachael Ruus won in 28:39, Master Nancy Tinari from Coquitlam, BC was second in 28:44 and Vancouver's Rachel McBride was third in 28:56.
The event saw the highest number of finishers in the Half Marathon and the 8K - 4,267 and 1,894 respectively. The Marathon saw 2,035 finishers and with the Thrifty Foods Kids Run the total number of finishers was 9,176.
The Royal Victoria Marathon looks forward to setting new records next year as it celebrates its 30th edition on Sunday, October 11, 2009.
29th Royal Victoria Marathon
Victoria, BC, Canada, Sunday, October 12, 2008
MEN
1) Steve Osaduik (CAN), 2:25:31
2) Todd Howard (CAN), 2:28:43
3) Jason Terauchi-Loutitt (CAN), 2:31:13
WOMEN
1) Cheryl Murphy (CAN), 2:43:01
2) Wendy Terris (USA / OR), 2:48:04
3) Katherine Moore (CAN), 2:54:12
For full results from the 29th Royal Victoria Marathon, go to: www.raceheadquarters.com
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