July 01, 2016
The BC Super Series visits the Okanagan for its tenth event this weekend, as the Kelowna Running Club presents the Fresh Air Midsummer 8K, incorporating the 2016 BC 8K Championship. The race is also the seventh event in the Canadian Tire Interior Road Race Series.
The race has attracted entries from across BC, from Prince George to Victoria, as well as strong representation from the Lower Mainland and Alberta.
Local athlete Brad Bickley, winner of multiple local races, may find more competition than he is accustomed to, as Nic Browne of Vancouver, currently lying ninth in the BC Super Series rankings, can be expected to vie for the Championship title.
In the women’s contest, Jessica Kaiser from Cochrane, AB, who placed 45th at last years World Mountain Running Championships, will present a challenge to the locals, led by Stephanie Trenholm, as well as Coquitlam’s Olivia Willett, the top rookie in the BC Super Series rankings.
The Okanagan is home to many of BC’s best masters road runners, and most will be present on Sunday. Entries include Liz Borrett, Diane Leonard, Cindy Rhodes, Roly Muller and Sergio Pio, as well as David Guss from Calgary.
A number of the masters will also be competing at the BC Masters Track Field Championships, taking place all weekend at the Apple Bowl, in conjunction with the Jack Brow meet.
The Fresh Air Midsummer 8K gets underway at 8:00am Sunday morning from Gyro Park, and follows an out and back course close to the lake shore. Shorter distance races for under 12s follow the main event.
The BC Super Series is a collaboration between BC Athletics and 12 of BC's best road races, which bring the best athletes in BC together in competition, and encourage participation from all abilities.
The BC Super Series will take a short summer break following this event, before reconvening on September 17 at the Vancouver Eastside 10K, which also serves as the BC 10K Championship.