Canadians perform well in Arizona, Houston, Seattle

January 19, 2014
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A number of Canadians had success in warmer climates over the weekend.

The BC Endurance Project cleaned up in Phoenix, with Rob Watson winning the Rock ’n’ Roll Half-Marathon in 1:05:03. He ran virtually uncontested from the gun, finishing over three minutes ahead of the second place finisher. Another Canadian, Nicolas Browne, placed sixth in 1:09:32.

Watson’s teammate Natasha Wodak placed second in the women’s half-marathon race, finishing in 1:16:24. Wodak was billed as the favourite going into the race, but came up short, finishing behind winner Jess Petersson by more than two minutes. She was clearly not happy with her effort.

In Texas, Toronto’s Lucas McAneney ran the Houston Marathon, placing 15th overall. The 27-year-old is one of Canada’s most promising young runners, but has struggled with injuries over the years. McAneney got what he came for, a PB of 2:18:15, but was still more than three minutes off the Commonwealth Games standard of 2:15, an outside goal that he had set for himself going into the race. Newfoundland runner Kate Bazeley also made the trip to Houston and had a stellar debut. The 29-year-old was seventh overall on the women’s side in 2:40:49.


In Seattle, Canadian cross-country champ Lucas Bruchet won a 3,000m indoor race in 7:54:57. Bruchet was racing as a member of the UBC track team, setting both the school and the meet record. His time currently ranks him second fastest in the world in 2014 in the 3,000m. Of course, it is less than three weeks into the new year, but Bruchet’s time is only four seconds off the world indoor championships qualifying time.

 

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