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80-year old female runner from North Vancouver breaks world record for her age
The 37th annual running of the BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon took place under sunny skies this year. There were 12,815 triumphant runners, walkers and wheelchair participants in the full, half, team relay, 8km and kids marathon races from 35 countries.
Thomas Omwenga, originally from Kenya, who trains in Florida, won the full marathon for men for the second year in a row, beating his 2007 time by 9:64. The 2008 female marathon winner, Mary Akor, from California won with a time of 2:37.54. Last year's female full marathon winner, Claudia Camargo of Connecticut, came in second this year.
Bettyjean McHugh from North Vancouver, BC, at 80 years old had a time of 2:04:19 in the 21km half marathon, setting a world record for her age. The previous record was 2:23:54. This is her 13th single age category world record.
The BMO Vancouver Marathon took participants along a scenic 42 km route that included False Creek, the Seawall, Stanley Park, and across the Burrard Street Bridge, through Kitsilano and Point Grey to the finish line at BC Place Stadium. In 1972, with just 72 runners, the original course was comprised of just five loops around Stanley Park.
BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon 2008 Results:
Full Marathon Male
1st - Thomas Omwenga, FL, 2:15:59
2nd - Yator Erick Cheboi, Kenya, 2:19:52
3rd - Habtamu Negassa, NY, 2:21:46
Full Marathon Female
1st - Mary Akor, CA, 2:37:54
2nd - Claudia Camargo, CT, 2:54:53
3rd - Ellie Greenwood, BC, 2:55:28
Top Canadian - Full Marathon Male
1st - Predrag Mladenovic, Toronto, ON, 2:27:33
2nd - Royd Burkart, Courtenay, BC, 2:36:09
3rd - Simon Driver, Vancouver, BC, 2:40:01
Top Canadian - Full Marathon Female
1st - Ellie Greenwood, Vancouver, BC, 2:55:28
2nd - Susanne Russell, Vancouver, BC, 3:03:42
3rd - Kari Elliott, Calgary, AB, 3:05:15
Half Marathon Male
1st - James Finlayson, Victoria, BC, 1:07:27
2nd - Todd Howard, Victoria, BC, 1:07:45
3rd - Orinthal Striggles, Augusta, GA, 1:09:31
Half Marathon Female
1st - Cheryl Murphy, Victoria, BC, 1:15:58
2nd - Suzanne Evans, New Westminster, BC, 1:18:55
3rd - Kristina Rody, Whistler, BC, 1:19:21
Thomas Omwenga of Kenya passes by the Kitsilano neighbourhood water station at the 30 km point of the BMO Vancouver Marathon Sunday. Omwenga was the first place winner with a time of 2:15:59. (CNW Group/BMO Financial Group)
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