Stettler region runners stepped up in a big way Sunday morning for the 14th annual Woody’s RV World Marathon in Red Deer.
In each of the three races — the full marathon, the half-marathon and the 10-kilometre run, local names figured in the results.
Among the notable performers were:
Jonathan Fuller of Castor celebrated his 21st birthday with a fifth-place finish in the half-marathon, a 21-kilometre race that attracted 912 runners. The Gus Wetter School graduate, who is a member of the University of Alberta Golden Bears, posted a time of 1:18:50.45.
In his age group (20-29), Fuller was second only to the half-marathon champion, Dustin Spiller (1:14:4.60).
Fuller’s twin sister, Rebecca, ran the half-marathon in 1:54:37.90 to finish 226th overall, and 23rd in her 146-runner category.
The half-marathon finishers included Stettler students Alicia Baharally and Emily Chapman, both of whom graduate this week from William E. Hay Composite High School. Chapman’s time was 1:54:55.55 for 238th place, while Baharally clocked a 1:55:18.90 showing for 246th in her first half-marathon. They placed third and fourth among the 13 runners in their category (19-and-under female).
Joe Faught, a teacher at Christ-King Catholic School, completed the half-marathon in 1:59:09.25 to finish in 318th place. In his age group (20-29 male), Faught finished 194th among 343 entries.
Another teacher, Stefan Olafson of Stettler Elementary School, ran the 42-kilometre marathon in 4:21:31.55 to finish 102nd in the 164-runner field. He was 19th out of the 22 runners in his division (30-39 male).
Immediately following Olafson overall was Stettler’s Carl Cornelssen, with a time of 4:22:34.95 that put him 21st among 28 runners in his class (50-59 male).
Alix-area runner Wally Cameron, 73, finished the full marathon in 5:33:01.55 to place 156th overall and first in his two-man category (70-and-over male).
Cameron’s grandson, 17-year-old Cassidy Meston, earned the bronze medal in the 10-kilometre race. The Grade 12 student finished in 41:03.80.
The 10K champion was Hunting Hills high school runner Kieran McDonald, whose time was 35:34.95.
The marathon winner was Camrose’s Brendan Lunty, with a 2:40.22.45 clocking that gave him a decisive victory. Runner-up Paul St. Amant finished in 2:53:34.05.
JOHN MacNEIL, Independent editor