Raya Grover and Pyper Gill give a "thumbs up" during the 45th Annual MHC Rattler Run on Saturday.--SUBMITTED PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS LUKOWSKI
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
More than 450 runners and walkers took part in a successful race weekend during the 45th Annual Medicine Hat College Rattlers Run, including the run’s oldest participant as well as the introduction of the mascot race.
Organizers say the annual run is the second oldest of its kind in the province, featuring three distances -10, five and three kilometres – and has turned into an iconic event for the local running community.
“It’s just a really cool event to get all these people out running or walking,” says Bill Corcoran, Rattlers running head coach. “It’s the start of spring and just a really cool vibe, and I’m just honoured to be able to be in charge of such an iconic event.”
Rattler runners had a successful Saturday as Rebecca Ross and Madi Scrimger placed first and second in the women’s 10 km. Ross defended her title for the third year in a row by posting a time of 41 minutes 25 seconds.
Corcoran says Ross has been recovering for the past six months from injury and her “huge talent” was on display during the women’s 10 km.
“She’s been rehabbing most of the winter and it’s really only been in the last two or three weeks that she has been able to start running again,” explains Corcoran. “But I know when you’re fit and you put in all that background (training) sometimes it doesn’t take too long to get back up.”
Quinn Halldorson of Medicine Hat took home first place with a “really fast” time under 16 minutes in the men’s 5 km, stopping the clock at 15 minutes and 56 seconds. Corcoran says it was the performance of the day.
Notably as well, 90-year-old Ross Fortier became the oldest competitor, completing the 3 km race, with her walker, in under an hour. Corcoran explains one of Fortier’s friends convinced her to join her in the race.
And she showed up and she said, ‘Can we start a little bit early, because we don’t want to hold up the event.” says Corcoran. “She walked all the way around the college without stopping in just under 52 minutes.
“She had a walker. So before the race I asked, ‘Did you put on your thin tires for this one, Rose,'” joked Corcoran.
This year also marked the inaugural Mascot Race to prove which local mascot has the fastest 100-metre dash, featuring Daniel’s Dip Fairy, Maverick’s Monty, MHC’s Rowdy and Seymour Sun.
“The dill pickle has a much less cumbersome costume than the rest,” says Corcoran. “It was a pretty convincing victory by the pickle fairy so I think the other ones will have to do a little more training for next year.”
Organizers said the annual run wouldn’t be possible without their volunteers and said more than 70 people volunteered their time to make this year’s run a success.
Overall results
3 km
Male
Finn Pasco – 12:26.798
Karden Plaster – 13:05.189
Cole Sumner – 13:16.931
Andrew Vis – 13:18.385
Alex Johnson – 13:52.626
Parker Schmaltz – 14:01.696
Michael Donner – 14:05.634
Leo Stevens – 14:35.495
Leon Ulbricht – 14:35.495
Isaac Percy – 15:30.057
Female
Blake Perrett – 15:17.237
Ava Dyck – 15:31.207
Tori Schmaltz – 15:52.814
Leighton Moon – 15:54.527
Katelyn Arik – 15:57.971
Palmer Lowe – 15:58.745
Wesley Henderson – 15:59.612
Kimberly Peterson – 15:59.940
Maria Garcia Caripa – 16:15.010
Holly Biggar – 16:38.775
5 km
Male
Quinn Halldorson – 15:56.518
Gideon Kimutai Rutto – 17:00.150
Keegan Kolody – 18:33.075
Peter Walker – 18:33.521
Neil Mardian – 19:09.098
Shinty Iwata – 19:47.417
Joffrey Wood – 19:59.909
Zaide Kolody – 20:09.541
Brannon Sumner – 20:19.878
Jaxon Scrivener – 21:14.114
Female
Keira Grant – 22:02.212
Jasmin Salmon – 22:12.496
Miriam Wyton – 22:19.504
Ellie Barlow – 22:42.825
Devyn Perrett – 22:58.238
Ember Jacober – 24:07.739
Isabelle McWilliams – 24:45.474
Mizuki Iwata – 24:47.443
Briar Ferris – 24:49.036
Viktoriia Nekhaieva – 25:28.905
10 km
Male
Rob Jja – 39:37.785
Michael Arequiton – 40:32.206
Darryl Smith – 41:11.065
Neil Gaudet – 41:33.658
Corry Leduc – 42:21.072
Tristy Scrimger-Bro – 42:35.299
William Percy – 43:00.844
Juan Garcia Caripa – 43:26.438
Mark Pierzchala – 43:55.408
David Gunderson – 44:08.437
Female
Rebecca Ross – 41:25.925
Madi Scrimger – 42:24.681
Heloise Shrives – 43:28.923
Jessica Ainsworth – 46:37.570
Cheldynn Molnar – 47:04.692
Ashley Weyer – 48:21.961
Sheri Emerson – 49:09.468
Brandy Lewis – 49:47.603
Heloise Williams – 49:48.540
Emmalyn Elgersma – 50:29.696
