Whitehorse Daily Star

Image title

Photo by Chuck Tobin

HEALTHY FIELD – Forty two runners participated in Saturday’s annual Haeckel Hill Run on a day when conditions were right for the 6.2-kilometre uphill test that climbs 600 metres in elevation from start to finish.

Image title

Photo by Chuck Tobin

KEEPING PACE – Glenda Koh, left, finished the run in 50 minutes and 23 seconds, three seconds ahead of Hayley Henderson on the right.

Image title

Photo by Chuck Tobin

STILL AT IT – At 70-years-old, Whitehorse runner Chester Kelly is still conquering Haeckel Hill.

Elite runners run neck-and-neck in Haeckel Hill Run

It’s difficult to even picture running straight up the road from the Icy Waters facility along Fish Lake Road to the wind turbines on top of Haeckel Hill.

By Chuck Tobin on May 30, 2018

It’s difficult to even picture running straight up the road from the Icy Waters facility along Fish Lake Road to the wind turbines on top of Haeckel Hill.

It covers a distance of 6.2 kilometres, and climbs 600 metres in elevation.

But 42 runners and walkers took the challenge Saturday morning for the 22nd annual Haeckel Hill Run sponsored by Yukon Energy and Athletics Yukon.

And two of the territory’s elite distance runners crossed the finish line at exactly the same time.

Colin Abbott and Matthias Pardon completed the run in 34 minutes and one second, or 37 seconds off the record of 33:24 set by Abbott in 2012.

That same year, Whitehorse cross country ski Olympian Knute Johnsgaard nipped at Abbott’s heels the whole way up, finishing 25 seconds short of the new record.

Before Abbott set the benchmark six years ago, Ryan Leef, the former Yukon MP, had the honours with a time of 33:59.

Victoria Ryan was the fastest woman Saturday, finishing in 45:30.

Renowned high school runner Darby McIntyre finished in fourth in 38:22, and was the youngest to compete.

Among the more senior of the runners, if not the most senior, was 70-year-old Chester Kelly, who finished in a time of 53:10.

Kelly said in a brief comment after the climb that he was slowing down a little with age, having clocked in around the 45-minute mark in his younger years.

“We had another great turnout this year for what is one of our most challenging events of the year,” said Ben Yu Schott from Athletics Yukon.

“Weather conditions were just about perfect with some sun, plus-9 temperatures at the start, and no snow at the top.”

Yu Schott crossed the line in 47:42.

Of the 42 participants, the following is a list of the fastest times for the first half of the field:

1. Matthias Pardon, Colin Abbott – 34:01
2. David Eikelboom – 35:23
3. Nansan Mullay – 37:50
4. Darby McIntyre – 38:22
5. Brian Horton – 38:52
6. Jrome McIntyre – 42:49
7. Chris Cann – 42:59
8. Dwayne Hanscom – 43:47
9. Ehab Alhag Hussen – 44:37
10. Rick Brown – 45:15
11. Victoria Ryan – 45:30
12. Richard Thompson – 46:21
13. Laura Wells – 46:29
14. Ben Harper – 46:55
15. Sue Bogle – 46:57
16. Ben Yu Schott – 47:42
17. Troy Searson - 48:58
18. Keith Maguire – 49:00
19. Pat Brunet – 49:38
20. Johanna Smith – 49:58
21. Glenda Koh – 50:23

Comments (1)

Up 1 Down 0

Anne Jones on Jun 1, 2018 at 11:10 am

My Grandson Darby McIntyre did well also Jerome did well, We are very proud of you both.

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.