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 2005
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Top points nabbed by non-Series competitors in
Squamish
Photos by Teresa Nightingale and Mynor Campos
July 31, 2005, Squamish - An earlier start this year plus cloudy skies
kept the temperature fairly comfortable for the participants of the
Squamish Days 10k, race #14 of the 2005 Timex BC Road Running Series -
though a fair amount of humidity ensured they all broke a good sweat.
First place points for both men and women were "stolen" today
by a couple of racers who haven't been doing the series this year.
A leading pack of men formed right away which included Vancouver's
Spencer Morrison, Courtenay's Neil Holm, Nanaimo's David Matte, Port
Coquitlam's Richard Lee, and Vancouver's Steve Mattina and Noah Wallace.
Holm and Morrison led the way, and gradually the pack dwindled until only
Matte remained with them. With just half a kilometre to go, Morrison put
the hammer down and found himself breaking away a little. He crossed the
line in 32:41, three seconds ahead of Matte, with Holm taking third in
32:57.
Lee, left in "no man's land" behind the top three (33:44),
was the first master to finish, with Carlos Gaspar of Richmond and Guy
Smith of Vancouver battling it out for 2nd and 3rd masters spots a few
minutes behind.
Morrison, who has been away in Ontario all summer, wasn't feeling too
confident throughout the race. "I was expecting to be dropped by the
pack myself at any time," he admitted later. So it was a nice
surprise to find himself still there at 9.5k - then pulling ahead for the
win.
The women's race was completely the opposite, with winner Tina Connelly
of Port Coquitlam well clear of the rest of the field. In only her second
race since having her second child 4 months ago, Connelly placed 8th
overall in 35:18, ten seconds faster than last week's Summerfast win.
Spectators had to wait nearly four minutes to see the second woman arrive,
Meghan McCollum of Vancouver who currently sits in third place overall in
the Timex Series.
McCollum had to stay ahead of Brenda Baker of Whistler who was only six
seconds behind in 39:18, a superb performance for a 52-year-old. Baker
passed Karen Warrendorf late in the race to take 3rd open and 1st masters
honours, with Rita Ivanauskas and Leslie Black of Vancouver claiming 2nd
and 3rd masters positions.
With just one race remaining in the 2005 Timex Series, the overall
standings look like this: Oliver Utting has first place locked up for the
men. Warren Barker and Brent Corbitt are in a tight race for second while
fourth place is hotly contested between David Polisi and Richard
Lee.
In the women's series the final outcome is easier to predict: Leah
Pells is untouchable in first spot, Nancy Tinari sits solidly in second
place, Meghan McCollum needs one more race to own third place, and Sheila
Mullins has fourth pretty much nailed down.
Top four overall men and women in the Series win cash prizes from Timex
(purse totalling $4000), while the top three in each age/gender division
take home merchandise prizes from FILA and Rackets & Runners. Only
those who have completed a minimum of 7 Series races (5 for the 19&U
division) qualify for prizing. Awards will be presented following the
final race on September 4th in Steveston, the Labour
Day Weekend 8k.
Full results from Squamish are posted online
here; photos are available on this site.
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