Members of the Oceanside Running Club Association had to endure a chilly start but still ended up finishing strong at the Port Alberni 15k Paper Chase.
The event, reincarnated last year as a 10k race, had an additonal 5k added this year. It was the fifth of eight races in the Vancouver Island Runners Association’s Winter Series. It was held March 3 and more than 200 runners came out including Team Orca.
The hilly route through the beautiful Cherry Creek area included a trail detour through the McLean Mill National Historic Site. First place went to Dusty Spiller of Duncan with a time of 52:04, followed by John Vanderveen (53:45) and Mark Cryderman (54:05), both from Campbell River.
Among the members that represented Team Orca were graduates from earlier Learn to Run clinics, who performed in a most accomplished way.
On the podium with the first 10 runners called in each age division, Faye Amos once again ran a phenomenal race winning her age division (F65-69) in a fast 1:15.38.
Christine Almond also ran a super-fast race to be placed fifth in a very competitive age group (F35-39) in 1.11.18 while Jill Davies won her age division (F70-74) in 1.39.56. Other podium places went to: Christine Rivers seventh (F65-69) in 1.36.10; Maureen Forscutt was eighth (F55.59) in 1.34.54; Jenny Hubner was eighth (F50-54) in 1.36.38; and Luke Hubner placed 18th (M60-64) in 1.36.27.
— NEWS Staff