The 2nd Annual Port Alberni Paper Chase 15K was held on 4 Mar. The cold and sunny conditions were ideal for a 15K through the rolling rural Alberni countryside. The original Paper Chase was a 10K from 1986 to 2002. The 15K Paper Chase was reinstituted in 2017 when the Merville 15K was dropped from the Series.
The overall winner was Dusty Spiller (30-34) in a time of 52:04. The top Female was Bastion’s Erin Burrett (35-39) with a time of 57:50 and 13th OA. The top Male Master was Mark Cryderman (45-49) in a time of 54:05 and 3rd OA. Our top Female Master and with her 3rd win was Carolynn Coffin (40-44). She hit the mat with 1:05:05 and 37th OA.
STARR had three of our senior runners competing and also earning three ribbons. Well done guys. Our 1st runner in was Jonathan Dvorak (40-44). He clocked in with a 1:09:19 and was 5th in a field 9 and 59th OA. Next to cross the line was Mark Ziegler (65-69) with a 1:25:09 and was 7th in a field of 9 and 149th OA. Closing our small field was Bruce Hawkes (65-69). Bruce closed with a 1:45:43 and was 3rd in a field of 4 and 210th OA. The next Series race will be the Comox Valley Half Marathon on 18 Mar in Courtenay. Good luck to all runners.