BP 5000 draws ex-Olympians, elite runners
Former Irish champion Paul O'Callaghan will race in the BP 5000 at Oak Bay's Jack Wallace Memorial Track, Friday night.
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Recreational and elite runners alike will test their speed and stamina in the second running of the Black Press 5000 fundraising race.
The 5,000 metre track event is drawing the big guns in high-performance athletes, such as marathon greats Steve Osaduik and Richard Mosley, 10,000 m 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, a Black Press online consultant and race director. With guys like Osaduik and Mosley having 14:20 personal bests for 5,000 m, 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 the athletics website Flotrack.org, said Victoria and Vancouver are two of the top three cities in Canada high-performance runners and triathletes make home. 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 level of runners. Men wishing to compete in the elite level 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.
Other competitors
Cam Levins of Black Creek (Campbell River), Southern Utah University Div 1 NCAA Athlete, 14:19 personal best
Jon Brown, Victoria (UK), 3 x Olympian, UK 10,000m record holder, 5,000m personal best 13:19, marathon best 2:09
Craig Babiuk, Victoria, University of Victoria Alumni standout will race 3,000m
Sean Chester, Chemanius/Victoria, UVic Alumni, World Mountain Running Championships competitor 2008
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