Great turnout for weekly five-km fun run

Oh, what a night!

Oh, what a night!

The 34 participants in last Tuesday night’s weekly Intersport five-km run and walk enjoyed sun, warm temperatures and almost no wind.

As they crossed the finish line in the second of the weekly races, many runners and walkers commented on the heat as if the event had taken place in Phoenix or some other southern hot spot.

He’s back! Rodney Hulstein easily won the men’s side of the five-km run cruising across the finish line in 17:27 with a sizzling 5:38 minute/mile pace time.

Swift newcomer Stefan Wackerhagen was the second runner to cross the line (19:04) followed by acclaimed marathoner Keith Thaxter (19:30), masters runner Tom Ullyett (19:31) and cross country skiing star Sam Lindsey (19:57).

Accomplished distance runner Amy Riske was the first woman to run across the five km line in 21:45, an enviable seven minute/mile pace.

Riske held a convincing 54 second lead over her closest competitors Julia Gerlach (22:39) and fabled masters runner Tina Brobby (22:48).

Tuesday night regulars Megan Phillips (25:13) and Jen Whipple (25:32) battled for fourth place with Phillips prevailing and edging out Whipple by 19 seconds.

The race walkers added some heat to the evening by walking pace times in the 10 minute/mile range, which is faster than some people run.

Athletics Yukon president Tanya Astika (33:19) won a tight race with the speedy Ruth Hall (33:23), finishing a mere four seconds ahead of Hall who looked determined to close the gap in the last 20 metres.

Bonnie Love (34:41) and Arlene Ogden (34:50), two of the other crown jewels in Whitehorse’s race walking community, competed for the third spot on the podium with Love finishing nine seconds in front of Ogden.

The next event is the gruelling seven-km Haeckle Hill Mountain Run and Walk on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

It starts at the Icy Waters Fish Hatchery and finishes near the wind turbines at the top of Haeckel Hill.

Story submitted by Tom Ullyett on behalf of Athletics Yukon.