Olympians, national champions on track for Black Press 5000

Recreational and elite runners will test their speed and stamina at the second Black Press 5000 fundraising race.

The 5,000-metre event is drawing the big guns in high-performance runners, such as marathon greats Steve Osaduik and Richard Mosley, 10,000m national champion Scott Simpson, and top Olympic-distance triathlete Kyle Jones. Among many past Olympians on the roster are Lucy Smith, Gord Christe and Paul O'Callaghan.

The first Black Press 5000 was held in May as a fundraiser for the 24-Hour Relay. Langford’s Ryan McKenzie won the elite men’s race in 14:02 and Smith won the elite women’s in 16:57.

The runners were eager for another local race, said Chris Kelsall, race director and Black Press online media consultant. With guys like Osaduik and Mosley having 14:20 personal bests for 5,000m, competition will be friendly but fierce, he said. Simpson came second at the last BP 5000 in 14:21 and Jones in 14:37.

Entry fees and donations for the Aug. 14 race will go to Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock.

“After the last one, the elite athletes were so hyped up about a high-performance local meet,” he said. “It’s a rare opportunity to have a race at this level. The runners want it and it’s a good cause.”

Kelsall, who writes for athletics website Flotrack.org, said Victoria and Vancouver are two of the top three cities in Canada for high-performance runners and triathletes. The third is Guelph, Ont.

“Victoria is a mecca for runners,” he said. “Some of the runners coming (to the race) are looking at international competitions.”

The Black Press 5000 is open to all levels of athletes. Men wishing to compete in the elite race should run 5,000m in 16:00 or less and women should run in 17:30 or less.

The event is Friday, Aug. 14 at the Jack Wallace Memorial Track on Goldsmith Street, at Oak Bay High School. The open race starts at 6:30 p.m. sharp. Entry is $10.

Register at raceonline.ca or on race day at 6 p.m.