The weather was sunny and warm as the records for both races were smashed during the annual Kootenay Sufferfest half marathon and 5K fun run and walk held May 26. Despite the first four half-marathoners going off course, one of them- 43 year old Nelson runner Nelson Rocha- set a new record. Rocha ran the 21 km course in 1:29:08, beating the previous record set by Nakuspian Mike Girard in 2016. Girard’s record stood at 1:36:15. Finishing eighth overall, the fastest female was Andrea McCormick of Rossland, B.C. with a time of 1:50:46.
Not to be outdone, Nakuspian Nate Hawe, 21, completed the 5km in just 0:19:35, smashing the previous record of 0:20:39 set by Karl Herreshoff of Billings Montana set in 2017. The first place female in 5km was Caroline Reid, age 32 from Golden B.C. with a time of 0:23:24.
Sixty-six runners registered for this year’s Kootenay Sufferfest Nakusp Half Marathon & 5K Fun Run/Walk. Participants ranged in age from 1 [in strollers] and 4 [running] to 82 years young.
Half Marathon
- 1st place Nelson Rocha, 43, Nelson, B.C. [1:29:08]
- 2nd place Eric Low, 29, Revelstoke, B.C. [1:39:08]
- 3rd place Martin Hajek, 41, Revelstoke, B.C. [1:40:43]
5K
Male
- 1st Nate Hawe, 21, Nakusp, B.C. [0:19:35]
- 2nd Colby Mackintosh, 14, Nakusp, B.C. [0:21:53]
- 3rd Michael Cold, 31, Nakusp B.C. [0:22:22]
Female
- 1st Caroline Reid, 32, Golden, B.C. [23:24]
- 2nd Lesley Hawe, 55, Nakusp, B.C. [0:23:36]
- 3rd Genille French, 34, Corner Brook, NF [24:05]
