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Canadian Mountain Running Champs: sprinting with smiles

Results from the 2019 Canadian Long Distance Mountain Running Championships 50K in Vernon, BC

The 2019 Canadian Long Distance Mountain Running Championships were held in Vernon, BC on Sunday May 5. The field was small, but it was mighty. The race had 64 finishers, with tough competition. The 50K championship race included two 25K loops with approximately 2,000 metres of elevation gain. For the fourth year in a row, Dirty Feet Trail Series hosted the Championship, where the top three male and female finishers received automatic spots for the Canadian Mountain Running Team to race at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Argentina November 16, 2019.

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Happy mountain runner Pascal Gray frolicking in the forest. Photo: Adrian Lambert

The weather was perfect for a 50K. The day started cool by Kalamalka Lake and gradually warmed up to 19 degrees. Arriving at the lake in morning, the event felt humble and quaint–like a true trail and mountain running race. Even while pushing their limits in the beautiful sunshine, runners were often shaded in the forest running the stunning single track. The uphills were fairly runnable and the downhills were flowing and (mostly) forgiving.

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Female results

1. Emilie Mann – 4:53:51
2. Jeanelle Hazlett – 5:04:06
3. Patricia Roney – 5:12:22

The women’s race was full of grit and smiles. Emilie Mann from Fernie, BC not only won the women’s race, she won the award for the most smiles.

Male results

1. Aaron Robson – 4:05:20
2. Dave Stevens – 4:06:00
3. Marcus Ribi – 4:06:30

It was a sprint finish for the men’s race. Dave Stevens was in the lead until the last kilometre. When Aaron Robson found out at the last aid station that he had closed the gap with 4K to go, he started hammering. In the last 400 metres, Stevens heard fast footsteps behind him, assuming the runner was in the 25K race. When he realized Robson was his competition, he started chasing to the finish. 30 seconds later, Marcus Ribi flew in behind them both.

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Full results can be found here.

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