The seventh race of the 2012 Frontrunners Island Race Series, the Merville 15K, was held April 1.
Down from 332 in 2011, 284 runners came out to run the course in the Comox Valley. The temperature was again perfect -- seasonal, with sunny and calm conditions.
The time in brackets next to the overall time is the 100M sprint time. The OA (overall winner) and his first Island Race Series win was Ben Brzezynski (20-24) from Aspire Running with a fast time of 50:18 and a sprint time of 14:90.
The OA female was Care Nelson (25-29) from the FR Athletic Club with another fast time of 58:09 and 16th OA (21:22).
The top Male Master was Vince Brotherston (45-49) from the Comox Valley Road Runners in a time of 54:12 and 5th OA (14:47).
The Female Master winner was Valerie Bell (50-54) from PIH in a time of 1:03:57 and 41st OA (23:51).
The Sooke Trail and Road Runners (STARR) had six runners in five various age groups and finished with five top ten finishes.
Leading the STARR group was Sarah-Mae Pyndus (25-29) in a time of 1:08:18 (2011 time 1:16:03) and was second in a field of 20 and good for 75th OA (19:94).
Next to hit the mat was Jonathan Dvorak (35-39) in his first Merville 15K. Dvorak came in with a 1:15:18. He placed seventh in a field of 10 and was 119th OA (23:65).
Next to cross was Vince Trahan (65-69) in a time of 1:24:59 (2010 time 2:19:51) and was fourth in a field of seven. and 189th OA (24:02).
Hot on his heels was Bruce Hawkes (70-74). Hawkes was in with a 1:25:20 (2011 run time 1:23:23) and was sixth in a field of nine and 192nd OA (24:22).
Not far behind was Tom Burgess (70-74). He hit the mat with a 1:25:33 (2010 time 1:20:40) and was seventh and 185th OA (27:43).
Closing out our STARR field was Karen Way (45-49). Way, also in her first Merville run, did a 1:25:39 and was 11th in a field of 24 and 198th OA (27:24).
STARR remains in seventh place with 747 points. To all the STARRs...outstanding.
Our STARR sprinter was Sarah-Mae Pyndus with a 19:94.
Our next race weekend which will also be the last race of the series will be the Sooke River 10K on April 15 at 11 a.m. Come out and cheer on the runners.
by Vince Trahan