New date benefits Yukon 10-km Road Race Championship

It was a match made in heaven for the Yukon 10-km Road Race Championships, which was held this week in conjunction with Intersport's Tuesday night run.

It was a match made in heaven for the Yukon 10-km Road Race Championships, which was held this week in conjunction with Intersport’s Tuesday night run.

Thirty-nine participants showed up,  a good number for the five-km run/walk and an outstanding total for the championships.

Canada Summer Games running manager Rodney Hulstein set a new bench-mark for the road championship, completing the course with a time of 35:42.

Hulstein, 23, was just one of three runners that finished in under 40 minutes and his time was more than four minutes faster than last year’s top participant Bill Matiation. Not bad for someone who found out about the championships when he showed up Tuesday evening.

“I just came down for five and ran the 10 (kilometre),” he chuckled.

Hulstein was racing more for comfort than anything.

“I could have went harder for sure, but I felt comfortable through it and that was kind of what I want,” he said. “I don’t want to completely kill myself and feel discouraged about it. It’s always good to end on that positive note.”

He started out in a group, but then about a kilometre into the race began to distance himself, never looking back.

Some of the members of the Yukon’s Canada Summer Games running team also came out to test their training in the five-km distance. The team is set to leave for the Games in P.E.I. on Saturday.

Hulstein, who is a two-time running participant at the Canada Summer Games (2001 and 2005), said he was pleased with how the team did in their last race before the national competition.

“They did really well,” he said. “I think there were some p.b.‘s (personal bests), so it was good. It shows everyone they are ready to go.”

Logan Roots was one of the Canada Games athletes, who enjoyed a personal best time in this week’s fun run, beating a mark he set in May by around one minute.

A steady pace with a push at the end helped the 16-year-old finish with the top five-km time of 17:38.

He said he was glad to see his training is paying off so close to the Games.

“I raced it at the beginning of the summer and wanted to beat that time by end of summer,” Roots said. “That’s kind of what I was trying to focus on today.

“Especially a week before Canada Games, it’s like ‘Wow I did get better this summer.’ That’s good to see.”

This will be Roots’ first time running at the Canada Games and although he doesn’t have any expectations he is hoping to set achieve a couple of personal best times.

Three of the top five five-km runners on Tuesday are on the Canada Games team

Other highlights on Tuesday came from race walker Ruth Hall, who continued what is now a three-week stretch of finishing first in her category.

Klondike Road Relay team White’s High Flyers was also well represented. Five teammates participated and based on their results it’s no wonder why the group is considered by many as one of the top KRR teams.

The group all finished in the top 10 at this year’s championships, with Bill Parry placing second, Bill Matiation (third); Tom Ullyett (fourth); Doug Mayr (fifth); and Don White, (seventh).

Sue Bogle also had another strong showing, winning her category with a time of 44:13.

The next Athletics Yukon event is the Chocolate Claim Pre-Skagway 10 Miler, which will take place on Aug. 30.

Race Championships

Timing - Marg White

Junior Women (17-19):

1 Coralie Ullyett         56:27
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Open Men (20-39):

1 Rodney Hulstein       35:42

2 Brad Magnusen   43:07
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Open Women (20-34):

1 Julia Gerlach       46:06

2 Sheila Merkley       56:32
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Masters Men (40-49):

1 Doug Mayr       40:38

2 Keith Thaxter       42:06
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Masters Women (35-44):

1 Sue Bogle       44:13
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Masters I Men (50-59):

1 Bill Parry       39:15

2 Bill Matiation       39:33

3 Tom Ullyett       40:13

4 Don White       42:48

5 Ken Kiemele       52:11
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Masters I Women (45-54):

1 Deb Kiemele       54:03

2 Nicole Hulstein       56:55

3 Catherine Ziegler     58:23
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Masters II Men (60-69):

1 Bob Bowerman   46:07

2 Brian Mottus       51:12
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Masters III Men (70+):

1 David Kalles       53:35
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Walkers:

1 Ruth Hall       1:10:49

2 Rick Griffiths       1:11:37

3 Tanya Astika       1:11:03

4 Arlene Ogden       1:11:22

5 Becky Striegler     1:12:02

6 Margaret Griffiths   1:19:29

7 Evi Watt             1:24:31
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Intersport Five-km Fun Run Results Males:

1 Logan Roots             17:38

2 Rob Westberg             18:54

3 William Kennedy   22:39

4 Roger Hulstein             23:43

5 Cody Lafluer             24:13

6 Ben Yu-Schott             27:23

7 Randy Lamb             27:51

8 Charlie Roots             33:24
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Females:

1 Amy Riske             22:17

2 Heidi Brook             23:10

3 Pam Taylor             24:34

4 Lene Nielsen             29:11

5 Theresa-Dawn White   33:24