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 2004
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Wambui and Pells celebrate Post to Post
victory
 July 1st, 2004, Vancouver - Nearly 1000 runners and walkers came out
for the annual Post to Post Canada Day 10k Run and 5k Walk, enjoying the
live music, giant flag and giant cake to commemorate the occasion. Hot
sunny weather was great for spectators but a little too warm for many of the
runners, resulting in slower times than usual on the mostly flat course.
 A
great battle ensued in the second half of the route between two young
runners, a fast-improving Spencer Morrison of Vancouver against David
Wambui of Kenya. After breaking away from an earlier pack which included
North Vancouver's Peter Cardle, West Vancouver's Colin Dignum, and Norm
Tinkham of Maple Ridge, Morrison took the lead for a time but was unable
to fend off a late charge by Wambui. The Kenyan's final time was 31:50
with Morrison just 14 seconds back at the line.
The other three men ran most of the way strung out with Tinkham ahead,
followed by Cardle then Dignum, with the gaps getting slightly longer as
the race went on. Tinkham recorded a 32:32 finish and took top Masters
honours, with Cardle a half-minute behind and Dignum trailing Cardle by
just slightly more than that. Randy Nelson of Kamloops and Mark Francis of
Port Coquitlam nabbed 2nd and 3rd Masters positions in 35:55 and 36:03.
 The women's race was dominated by Coquitlam's Leah
Pells, 1500m track
star turned road racer, whose family was in attendance to participate in
the 5k in celebration of son Luke's second birthday. Even after going off
course for about 30 seconds due to some mysterious extra cones at an
intersection, Pells still managed to build up a 90 second lead over second
place Cindy O'Krane of West Vancouver, also a 1500m specialist. Pells time
was 35:32, "the slowest I've run in about 10 years," she said
later. O'Krane suffered from some stomach troubles in the latter part of
the 10k and was nearly overtaken by a fast-closing Nancy Tinari of
Coquitlam, just 4 seconds separating the two at the finish. Tinari simply
ran out of road in her quest for first masters spot.
Vancouver's Katrina Blanch held off North Vancouver's Darcie Montgomery
for 5th as the two finished in 37:46 and 38:00 respectively. Canada Post
employee Leslie Black of Vancouver was the third female master in 39:36.
All enjoyed great live entertainment by bands along the course, at the
start/finish, and at the awards area, where the "Neurotics" kept
everyone smiling with their Beatles songs and playful banter. The huge
Canada Day cake (chocolate!) was sliced up and served to the crowds along
with plenty of water, much in demand in the hot sun.
Full race results are available on the Race
Headquarters site. Photos are available in the Series photo
gallery.
Next Series event (#11) is the Summerfast
10k in Stanley Park on Saturday, July 24th.
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