Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by John Tonin

BEGINNING THE RACE – Runner Luke Carlos breaks away from the pack near the start of the Yukon 5 kilometre Championships on Tuesday starting and finishing at Rotary Park.

Run determines Yukon 5km champs

Summer is moving by quickly and having hosted a fun run and walk every Tuesday,

By John Tonin on July 10, 2019

Summer is moving by quickly and having hosted a fun run and walk every Tuesday, starting in May, as well as weekly trail runs on Thursdays, this Tuesday marked the Athletics Yukon 5-kilometre championships. For those not wishing to race in the championship, there was also a Sports Expert Fun Run/Walk.

The start and finish line were in a new location than the previous Tuesday runs that had been held throughout the summer. Typically starting at the old F.H. Collins parking lot the 5km Championships started in Rotary Park near the playground.

The athletes participating ran along the Millennium Trail past the SS Klondike and continued to the bridge. There, they turned around and headed back the way they came.

Smoke filled the air from the numerous fires burning in the territory and there was chatter before and after about how this might and how it did affect the runners’ lungs.

Starting at 6 p.m., the trail was a busy place as cyclists and walkers took advantage of the warmth. When the clock began and the pack of runners began the quick five-kilometre journey they had to weave their way through the other users. As quickly as they had started they were gone unable to be seen.

It didn’t take long for the front of the pack to become visible again. They were fast-moving specks along the trail as they made their way back toward the SS Klondike.

The leader was Masters Men 35-39 runner Shane Carlos who completed the race in 16 minutes and seven seconds.

Carlos also had the quickest time in the 2018 race and he was able to shave off 25 seconds from last year’s time.

Luke Carlos followed reaching the finish line in 18 minutes 17 seconds. Luke was the second to finish in last year’s race but was seven seconds quicker.

Scott Williams was the third runner back only 30 seconds behind Luke Carlos.

The first women to reach the finish was Annett Kralisch who was on the five-kilometre course for 20 minutes, 41 seconds. She was also the fourth overall finisher.

Sophie Tremblay-Morissette was the second women across just over two minutes behind Kralisch. The third-place woman overall was Cynthia Freeman whose run time was 23 minutes, 42 seconds.

Allan Benjamin, who completed the race in 21 minutes, 55 seconds, was the furthest travelled as he came down from Old Crow to race.

Athletics Yukon will be hosting their next Yukon Championship on August 13, this time a 10-kilometre race. On September 22, it will be the Yukon Cross Country Championships.

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