Philip Samoei will be hoping to better his 2010 time of 2:23:24. He recently ran the Manitoba Marathon and was second in the Montreal Half Marathon two weeks ago. Close on his heels will be the 2011 Oak Bay Half Marathon winner, Gilbert Kiptoo (1:06:49) who also placed second at the BMO Vancouver Marathon this year in 2:23:09. Third seed is three-time winner of the BMO Vancouver Marathon, Thomas Omwenga. He has a PB of 2:10:34 and is aiming to run 2:15, which would break the course record of 2:16:49, set by Steve Osaduik in 2006.
BC athletes running the Marathon include Ryan Day, who recently moved to Victoria from Vancouver. Ryan was second this year in the Canadian Derby Edmonton Marathon in 2:35:09 and has a personal best of 2:19:55 in the 2005 Ottawa Marathon. The Master’s Marathon record could be under threat as Vancouver’s Graeme Wilson, running as a Master this year, has a PB of 2:27:54 (Victoria in 2009). The record, set in 1988 by Tom Howard, is 2:27:36.
“The women’s field will see some interesting competition with two Americans hoping to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials,” says Jonathan Foweraker, Coordinator, Dairyland Elite Athlete Program. Trisha Steidl is aiming to break the 2:46 barrier – she has a PB of 2:48:17 from the Austin Marathon, and has run Seattle and Vancouver several times, finishing consistently in the top three. “Chelsea VanDeBrake is an exciting young runner and at 23 years old, Victoria will be her third marathon,” says Foweraker. “She ran an impressive 2:49:52 at Grandma’s Marathon this year. Vancouver Sun Run winner Lucy Njeri will be in strong contention – she has a PB of 2:34 from the 2008 Mazatlan Marathon, and she has won the Around the Bay 30km race for the past three years. And it’s great to see Suzanne Evans back! The three-time Victoria winner came second last year in 2:53:53.”
In the Half Marathon the top three seeds are all aiming at 1:06. James Lander, who now lives in Esquimalt, was second in the marathon last year and has a Half PB of 1:04:56. Ireland’s Michael MacDiarmada has a PB of 1:09:09, set on a net uphill course in Waterford. He came third in the Victoria 8K in 2009 and has been a member of the Irish national team for the past five years competing in cross-country, track and road races. John Ricardi, from Indiana, has a PB of 1:09:04 set at 4,800 ft altitude at the Pocatello Marathon – a course record by seven minutes. Other top seeded runners include Josiah Price from Olympia, WA with a PB of 1:08:17; Jeremiah Johnston, an up-and-coming runner from Mission, BC, hoping to run 1:08; and local Masters runner Craig Odermatt, who came second in the 2011 Island Race Series, and recently ran a 1:11.
The women’s Half Marathon field features some great champions including two Olympians and the current record holder Marilyn Arsenault (1:15:39). Joining her is two-time Olympian Kathy Butler who has a PB of 1:11:05 (Philadelphia Distance Run, 2006). The Canadian/British citizen has several national records from both countries and has set herself a goal of 1:15 this weekend. Calgary’s Lisa Harvey is the defending champion – she won last year in 1:18:34. The 1992 Olympian has a PB of 1:15 from the Edmonton Half Marathon in 2005. Britain’s Mary Wilkinson recently won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships and has a PB of 1:15:36. Rounding off the top seeds are Port Moody’s Natasha Wodak, who leads the BC rankings this year in 1:17:16 and who placed second in the Victoria 8K last year, second in the TC10K, and third in the Vancouver Sun Run; and a Victoria favourite, Lucy Smith. The 19-time Canadian champion has a PB of 1:14.
An American, but great friend to Victoria running, Yasso was announced over the weekend as this year’s recipient of the Walk of Fame award. His commemorative concrete block will rest alongside those outside the Frontrunners store honouring Island running or triathlon greats such as Olympians Simon Whitfield, Diane Cummins, Zach Whitfield, Jon Brown, Bruce Deacon, Ironman Hawaii multi-time world champions Lori Bowden and Peter Reid, masters champion Maurice Tarrant and announcer Steve King.
“I come from a small town in Pennsylvania and it’s amazing to think, and I never could have imagined, I would have a plaque in my honour in Victoria,” said Yasso, who will run the half-marathon today.
“Thirty-four years ago I ran one mile and it changed my life.”
He will be joined on the streets of Victoria today by the sea of 11,800 who will run the marathon, half-marathon, 8K or kid’s race.
“It’s like a city being helicoptered into the downtown core,” said Rob Reid, in his 23rd year as Victoria marathon race director.
Despite competition from the likes of cycling, triathlon and a number of emerging endurance sports, Yasso said the numbers today in the Victoria marathon show the continued strength of running as a social force.
“It has survived the economic downturn and races still consistently sellout,” he said.
“No matter the economy, people still need and want to take care of themselves. That holds true whether you have the best job in the world or whether you just lost your job. This sport is not going away. It is still the basic introduction for most into the fitness lifestyle because of its simplicity.”
One of the favourites in today’s race, Thomas Omwenga, caught his first glimpse of Victoria as a 14-year-old in Kenya watching flickering TV images of the 1994 Commonwealth Games.
“I still remember watching it on TV and thinking that some day I would like to go there,” said Omwenga, who will attempt back-to-back race victories after winning the Montreal Marathon two weeks ago with a 2:14:35 time.
“Since we are kids in Kenya running is promoted and we have so many great runners to look up to at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and world championships,” added the 31-year-old with a scorching personal best of 2:10:34.
The 2010 champion Philip Samoei of Kenya is back to defend his title with Gilbert Kiptoo, 2011 Oak Bay Half Marathon champion, who is also looking to make another splash on the streets of the capital.
“I love out-and-back courses such Victoria’s because spectators can see the racers going and coming,” said Samoei.
“We [elites] would love to break the event record [2:16:49 set in 2006 by Steve Osaduik of Nanaimo] and will push for it [today].”
Women’s favourite Trisha Steidl of Seattle is aiming to crack the 2:46 standard and qualify for the U.S. Olympic trials for London 2012.
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