The Yukon High School Road Race Championships didn’t get the turnout organizers would have liked, with just six cyclists coming out to the event.
However, the 24-kilometre race, held May 24 on the Hamilton Boulevard extension in Whitehorse, showcased up-and-comers on the Yukon’s developmental team.
In fact, the top-two finishers will be racing at the B.C. Junior Provincials this weekend in Victoria, B.C.
Porter Creek Secondary’s Calden Hoefs finished first, with a time of 47 minutes and 24 seconds.
F.H. Collins Secondary’s Olivia Findlay was the top female and second overall with a time of 49:36. She was the only racer not from Porter Creek other than Caleb McPherson, who is home schooled.
“I just went at my own pace,” said Hoefs. “In Grade 10 I entered the ACES outdoor program and we biked outside every day for about 20 kilometres, so I was in pretty good shape then.
“When spring came I saw a poster for the biking club and I thought it would be fun, I’d get back into it.”
Findlay, who won a bronze medal in biathlon at the Arctic Winter Games in March, cycled on Team Yukon at the Western Canada Summer Games last August in Kamloops, B.C.
“Today was pretty good,” said Findlay. “I actually woke up this morning and was sick, so I thought I wasn’t going to come out, but I did and I had a good time. It was awesome.”
Other high school events at the same time as the race prevented a larger turnout. However, organizers will select a more convenient date for next year’s championships and will try to get Skagway and Juneau schools involved.
“When I go to the Tour of Juneau this year, I’ll be mentioning it to them and hopefully getting their input into when a good date would be,” said race organizer Trena Irving. “I think it would make things more exciting for everybody, because there would be a bit of international competition.”
Results
1st Calden Hoefs (Grade 11) – 47:24
2nd Olivia Findlay (Grade 11) – 49:36
3rd Matthew Knaack (Grade 8) – 52:00
4th Caleb McPherson (Grade 7) – 52:03
5th Brace Lemphers (Grade 8) – 54:05
6th David Jackson (Grade 9) – 56:38
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com