More than 100 Sooke runners competed in the 27th annual TC10K in Victoria on Sunday.
Jonathan Toombs led the local contingent with a time of 32:20, good for 14th place overall and fifth in the men’s 20 to 24 age category.
Other top Sooke finishers included Logan Root, 33:41; Howard Manderson, 39:35; and Laura Schwertfeger. 40:54.
The elite race saw Jane Murage win the women’s race for the fourth consecutive year, and GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon champion Daniel Kipkoech place first overall in his first TC10K.
The men’s elite field was one of the most competitive in recent years with Kipkoech, and Vancouver Sun Run second and third place finishers Christopher Cheruiyot, and Paul Kimugul running, so there were expectations that the course record of 28:47 would be broken.
But, the prevailing head wind half way through the race took its toll. The lead pack went through 5K in 14:49. Kipkoech made a break at Mile 0, but Cheruiyot came back after 7K. Kipkoech then pulled away at the last mile to finish in 29:42 just six seconds ahead of Cheruiyot. Third was Solomon Rotich in 30:05.
In the men’s Master’s category, Victoria’s Jim Finlayson repeated his 2014 and 2015 Master’s victory finishing in 32:07, second was Mark Cryderman in 33:22, and third was Craig Odermatt in 33:43. Lucy Smith led the women’s master’s field in 35:59, second was Nancy Baxendale in 39:34, and third was Allison Fryer in 42:16.
The wheelchair race was won by three-time Paralympic gold medalist and Parksville MLA Michelle Stilwell in 33:22.
A total of 8,060 finished the event: 7,124 in the 10K, and 936 in the Thrifty Foods Family Run.