Olympic hopeful Dylan Wykes ran 21-kilometres in one hour, four minutes and two seconds time to win the first McNeill Bay Half Marathon in Oak Bay on Sunday.
Former Islander Steve Osadiuk finished second, just over two minutes back of Wykes’ winning pace.
“If there was one complaint, it was a bit hot (for this time of year),” joked a happy Phil Nicholls, the race organizer.
“The runners were happy, the police seemed happy and that’s what’s important with a first-time race,” Nicholls said.
Local runner Hugh Trenchard won the masters category with a time of one hour, 18 minutes and six seconds. Victoria’s Claire Morgan was the top female at one hour, 27 minutes and 59 seconds. Oak Bay’s Kate Soles was second among women, in 91 minutes and 10 seconds.
The McNeill Bay Half is the second half-marathon in Oak Bay’s race schedule with the Oak Bay Kool Half taking place in May. The McNeill is much smaller, with 163 finishers compared to 779 in the Kool Half.
