The 40th edition of the BMO Sunshine Coast April Fool’s Run presented by Coast Cable on Sunday, April 2 is shaping up to be an exciting contest in the front of the pack.
The men’s field features two Kenyan athletes, both with identical personal bests of 1:06:01 for the half marathon. Benard Ngeno and Leornard Kipkoech are currently staying in Surrey for the West Coast spring road race circuit, and have decided to include the BMO Fool’s Run in their competition schedule.
Ngeno recorded his best half marathon time in Victoria 18 months ago, and has been recovering from an injury since then. The 28-year-old is making a strong comeback, as evidenced by his 15:47 clocking at the recent BMO St. Patrick’s Day 5k in Vancouver.
Kipkoech, 23, has finished in the top 10 in the last two Vancouver Sun Runs, placing third in 2015 in 29:05.
Roberts Creek favourite Shaun Stephens-Whale has the home-course advantage and could possibly challenge the Kenyans if they get too relaxed. Stephens-Whale won the 2015 Fool’s Run in a thrilling photo-finish 1:10:15. The Fool’s Run hills should be a breeze for him, after his recent successes in international tower (stair climb) races.
The women’s favourite on paper is Kate Gustafson, a 32-year-old from Vancouver who won the Seawheeze Half Marathon last August, and has a personal best of 1:19:08 set at the BMO Vancouver Half in 2015.
Chasing Gustafson will be last year’s Fool’s winner Adrienne Gomes of Squamish. Since her victory here last April, the 20-year-old has set new personal bests of 1:23:56 for the half and 18:57 for 5k. “I am excited to be returning to such a great event this year,” Gomes said.
Gibsons’ Kimberley Doerksen, Fool’s Run women’s course record holder (1:14:53) and 2015 BMO Vancouver Marathon winner, decided at the last minute to join the fray, though she’s the first to admit she’s not in any shape for a fast half marathon. “I’d be pleased with sub 1:25 right now,” says Doerksen. “I haven’t done any intervals further than a mile.”
Doerksen, who now lives and works off-Coast, is no longer eligible for the Top Local Finisher award. She sees this as a good thing. “Winning first local at the Fool’s Run was what got me hooked on running, so hopefully that happens with someone else,” she explains.
Rounding out the list of female podium contenders is 32-year-old Kristin Smart of Cobble Hill. Smart placed second in the 2012 and 2015 Fool’s Run, and has a marathon best of 2:49, but was sidelined with injury in 2016. She’s back and ready to test her fitness in preparation for a June marathon.
In the Masters (40+) division, the woman to watch is Margreet Dietz from Squamish, who will be defending her title. At age 46, Dietz has an impressive recent half marathon time of 1:29:41 and set her personal best (1:26:54) at the 2012 Fool’s Run at age 41.
Another previous Fool’s Run Masters winner, Mark Bennett of Vancouver, is now 56 years old and continues to amaze. He has a long list of records and achievements over the past few years, with a half marathon personal best of 1:13:32 set at age 53. Bennett is also a Canadian Age Group Record Holder for the half marathon distance.
Ngeno and Kipkoech’s compatriot Jane Murage, winner of the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon in 2016 and many other prestigious events, will also be attending the Fool’s Run, but not to race. She will enjoy being a spectator, then lead the children around the park in the Home Healthcare Network Jester Dash presented by Pastimes. Murage placed second recently at the highly competitive Around the Bay 30k in Hamilton, Ont.
If you haven’t already done so, you can register an individual or relay team, or volunteer at www.foolsrun.com. Walk-up registration is available on race weekend – see website for details.
– Submitted
