Before there was the Kluane Chilkat bike relay or the Klondike Trail ‘98 relay, there was the Carmacks Ridge Run.
Though maybe not as big as the other two, the Carmacks event will likely go down as the biggest youth running event in the territory this year.
The 40th annual Carmacks Ridge Run, hosted by the Tantalus Community School, saw a record turnout in Carmacks on May 5.
“It was a huge success,” said Tantalus principal Morgan Douglas-Alexander.
The four-decade old event had 590 students from 19 Yukon schools compete. Following the five-, three- and one-kilometre runs, there were some big appetites to feed. Organizers served up seven kilograms of pasta salad, “gallons” of juice and over 700 hotdogs at the post-race barbeque with Carmacks mayor Lee Bodie working the grill.
“We normally get between 400 and 450 … and 12 to 15 schools,” said Douglas-Alexander. “The kids had fun, the weather was perfect, it was just a really great day. It was one of those ah-ha moments where I go, ‘This is why I’m in education.’ The kids were fabulous, everyone of them.”
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com
Female division winners
Novice: Jada Wheeler
Atom: Ruby Ferland
Juvenile: Hannah Jirousek
Junior: Hannah Deuling
Peewee: Winter Tricker
Bantam: Anju Perren
Midget: Abi Freeman
Adult: Amy Day-Janz
Masters: Maura Sullivan
Male division winners
Novice: Travis Smith
Atom: Cody Adams
Juvenile: Gary Schulze
Junior: Nathen Blackjack
Peewee: Simon Connell
Bantam: Naoisa Dempsey
Midget: Ben Kishchuk
Adult: Bryan Clubbe
Masters: Alain Desrochers