California International Marathon 2019: Canadian results

It was a sea of pink and green Nike NEXT% shoes at the California International Marathon in Sacramento today as hundreds of runners attempted to qualify for the US Olympic Marathon Trials. Considered a last-chance qualifier for the trials, scheduled for February 29 in Atlanta, the race saw 56 runners (19 women and 37 men) finish within the Olympic B standard of 2:45 (women) or 2:19 (men). For those who still want to qualify, next month’s Houston Marathon will likely be their last opportunity. Not everyone was aiming for an OTQ, however, since the results include some impressive times from non-Americans, including a number of Canadians.

Be advised, there are reports of a Vaporfly army advancing in the Sacramento area https://t.co/30t2QJ5hr6

— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) December 8, 2019

Elisha Barno of Santa Fe, New Mexico was the overall winner, in 2:13:36. CJ Albertson of Fresno was second, in 2:13:40 and Patrick Smyth of Santa Fe was third, in 2:13:48. On the women’s side, Jane Kibii of Auburn, California was first across the finish line, in 2:29:31. Obsie Birru of Phoenix was second, in 2:30:25 and Meriah Earle of Escondido was third, in 2:34:34. Sixteen other women and 34 other men achieved standard.

Your happiest runners of the day! @runSRA_CIM OTQs for everybody! You get an OTQ! You get an OTQ!!! pic.twitter.com/8zX0St5EF1

— Reed Breuer (@ReedBreuer) December 8, 2019

Canadian results

Blair Morgan of Vancouver was the fastest Canadian man today, finishing in 2:17:33 and 12th overall. Evan Elder, also of Vancouver, was the second-fastest Canadian man, in 2:24:11, and Jacob Puzey of Canmore, Alta. was third, in 2:28:58.

Danielle Thiel of Edmonton was the fastest Canadian woman and fourth female overall, in 2:35:18. Toronto’s Brittany Moran of Toronto was the second-fastest Canadian woman (and sixth female overall), in 2:36:23, and Lauren Andrews of Edmonton was third Canadian female and third in the F30-34 age group, in 2:43:18.

Moran, the Toronto chiropractor who won the Scotiabank Toronto Half-Marathon in October, messaged us to say that she had an excellent experience at CIM. “It was an amazing day!” she says. “I went for it and was able to hang in there. Felt strong until the last km. Super excited with a 4:23 (four minutes and 23 seconds) PB!!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5zC0TUl3Ii/

Moran adds that the first half of the course has a lot of rolling hills, but the second half is flat (which makes it easier to achieve a negative split). She also enjoyed the break from the wintry conditions here in Canada, which arrived unusually early this year. It was 20 months since Moran had raced a marathon–a sacral stress fracture and hamstring tear put her on the sidelines for four months in 2018. She resumed running in January 2019 with a 10-minute run, and gradually worked her way back up to the marathon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5xs6ofHlFG/

Canadian age group results

Michelle Clarke of Toronto was 8th in F45-49 (3:01:21). Andrea Digby of Vancouver was sixth in F55-59 (3:33:14). Janet Chiu of Vancouver was eighth in F60-64 (3:56:07). F. Deborah MacDonald-McGee of Ottawa was second in F65-69 (4:15:38). Janet Green was sixth in F65-69 (4:32:12).

Chris Hooper of Calgary was third in M40-44 (2:30:34). Nicolas Paradis of St-Bruno, Que. was fifth in M40-44 (2:31:38). James Newby of Squamish, B.C. was 10th in M45-49 (2:39:08). Wayne Crow of Comox, B.C. was sixth in M60-64 (3:16:46).

"California International Marathon: where even the spectators wear VaporFlys."
–@ultrabritton #CIM
cc @letsrundotcom @Crazie_Daizee

— SteelTownTweeter (@SteelTownRunner) December 8, 2019

Visually impaired Canadians

Daryl Lang of Edmonton finished as fifth female in the visually impaired category, in 4:25:50.

You can check out full results here.

RELATED: An insider look at the California International Marathon course