Submitted by Athletics Yukon
It’s starting to feel like fall in Whitehorse.
Maybe the cooler weather is why another horde of runners and walkers turned out to compete in the weekly Intersport five-kilometre run and walk on Tuesday evening.
First-place finisher Brent Langbakk (16:46) literally ran away with the race. Right from the start line, Langbakk charged ahead, quickly creating a large gap between himself and the next runner Harrison Kwok (19:37).
At the three-kilometre point, Langbakk was in complete control of the race and looking very much like he was ready to represent Canada for a fifth time at the World Orienteering Championships.
These will be held in Ukraine later this month.
Straggling well behind Kwok was Tom Ullyett (20:45) still hurting, like many others, from the countless number of hills in last weekend’s Yukon River Trail Marathon.
Julianne Markley, who becomes faster with each passing week, gets to wear the female running crown. She was the first female runner across the line in 21:23.
At the one-kilometre mark, she caught up to and then passed Ullyett. The two of them paced each other for the next two kilometres until Markley pulled up and decided to run her own race and focus on fending off any female challengers.
The second swiftest female runner was the wily veteran Helen Stappers (22:44), who was also the fastest masters woman in the half marathon portion of the Yukon River Trail Marathon.
Maryanne Ferguson (24:44) was the third-fastest woman in Tuesday’s night’s run.
The walkers were not deterred by the cool, north wind and ever threatening rain. A number of the speed walking stalwarts showed up and battled the north wind and intermittent rain.
Rick Griffiths (34:35) and Tracy Aldridge (38:35) were the fastest male and female walkers.
Upcoming
running events
August 12 - Long Lake Trail Triathlon, Whitehorse: Long Lake (on Wickstrom Road). Race Orientation 10 to 10:30 a.m., race start 10:30 a.m., one-kilometre swim, 15.5-kilometre mountain bike ride and six-kilometre run. Call Rick Janowicz at 867-668-2858.
August 14 — Intersport five-kilometre championships
Whitehorse: FH Collins parking lot. Registration 6 p.m., start time 6:30 p.m.
Yukon Orienteering Association
Thirty-eight participants, including visitors from Quebec and Japan, came out on Wednesday to enjoy an evening in the forest and try one of the five courses on the Golden Horn map.
An easy walk was all that was required to keep ahead of the bugs.
On the 2.25-kilometre novice course, junior squad member Shea Hoffman flew around in only 21:38.
Second place was hotly contested between Maura Glenn, Kathy McKay, and Norma Mastrangelo in 40:52 and Dillys Ranson only two seconds behind.
Deb Kiemele led the 3.25-kilometre intermediate course in 51:56, followed by Julianna Scramstad in 65:05 and Ev Pasichnyk in 66:34.
On the long intermediate course, Phil Hoffman finished first in 47:23 and Violet Van Hees came in second in 59:18.
Fourteen orienteers took on the four-kilometre advanced course. Ross Burnett led the field, needing only 30:14 to finish. Pam James was next in 36:29. Sky Pearson held off older brother Lake to take the third spot.
The longest course of the evening had runners complete the advanced course, then as they approached the finish area, they were handed a second map and sent out again for a shorter second part.
Finishing the two sections in 41:03, Brent Langbakk managed to hold off junior Colin Abbott by five minutes. Colin had only a minute in hand over third-place Afan Jones.
Yukon Orienteering’s next regular meet will be on Wednesday, August 22 using the Ear Lake map. The start location will be on Miles Canyon Road, just north of the lookout area. For more info call Afan at 667-6659.