Helped by the addition of a new, shorter event, the Oceanside Running Club (Team ORCA) drew a record crowd this month for its annual Oceanside Mother’s Day 10K and 5K run/walk in Qualicum Beach.
The May 8 event drew 359 runners, joggers and walkers, including 104 who signed up for the new five-kilometre distance, open to not only runners, but walkers and parents pushing baby strollers.
Team ORCA donated $600 from the event to the Haven House Society, and an additional contribution is expected pending final tally of contributions.
Highlights included age-group wins by Jill Davies and her son John Pemberton, the only mother/offspring win, and a standing ovation upon the 5k finish of 93-year-old Jim Silvester, a stroke survivor who was the oldest participant and who ran to a personal-best time of 58 minutes, five seconds.
Among Team Orca runners, Melissa Ross was fifth overall and first among women in the 10K in 39:23, and Faye Amos (60-64 women), Al Shirley (55-59 men) and Sarah Ehmanns (35-39 women in the 5k) were age-group winners.
—Submitted by Jill Davies
