Victoria, BC – The Q’s Victoria Track Series first meet of the third season took place at the Jack Wallace Memorial Track at Oak Bay High School, Saturday, May 12th under sunny skies and warm temperatures.

The University of Victoria Vikes men’s and women’s teams were racing. The men’s 3000m race was the main event of the night, which happened at a 7:30 PM. Dylan Haight from the University of Victoria won the race, crossing the line in 8:24.90, followed by teammates Patrick Poske in 8:39.20 and Forrest Simpson in 8:43.10.
Haight shared the lead through most of the seven and half laps until he opened up and did not relinquish the lead over Poske.

The women’s 800m race featured a duel between Uvic’s Shauna McInnis and Oceanside Track and Field Club Myriam Bassett who traveled from Nanaimo to take in the meet. McInnis prevailed in the time of 2:14.60 to Bassett’s 2:15.70. Third place went to Uvic Vike Maureen McCulligh who finished in 2:16.40

In the Open category Anton Rabien won in a time of 2:11.60 over Declan O’Callaghan, the son of former Irish International Paul O’Callaghan who was announcing at the meet. O’Callaghan finished in 2:14.00 over top local master and Canadian Military 10k Champion Walter Cantwell with his 2:16.70. Beth Venebles won the women’s section of the open 800m race over Wendy Davies, their times were 2:32.60 and 2:54.70, respectively.

In the 3000m Open race Ian Perrimen prevailed over Peter Holmes they ran 10:04.80 to 10:10.8, respectively. Holmes owns part of the Canadian 4 x 800m record for the 50-plus age-group, which he set during The Q‘s Victoria Track Series in 2011. Third place went to Brett McCullough with his 10:30.20. Alicia Roske of the University of Victoria Vikes was the lone female, she finished in 10:39.20.

The second meet of the seven part series that encompasses The Q’s Victoria Track Series takes place at the University of Victoria Saturday, May 26th. Same start time, 6:30 PM. Shaw Television will broadcast that meet that features the 5000m and 1500m distances.

The Q’s Victoria Track Series invites runners of all abilities to try out the joys of track racing – participants compete within their own level.

As it stands at this red-hot moment in time:

AT OAK BAY HIGH SCHOOL TRACK.

6:30 PM – 800m Open
6:45 PM – 800m Women
6:55 PM – 3000m Open
7:30 PM – 3000m Men

Victoria, BC – The Q’s Victoria Track Series is pleased to present two new sponsors for the 2013 edition of The Series, Frontrunners Footwear (Westshore) and Petals Plus Florist.

Both are a new Gold-level sponsors. Frontrunners continue to provide support to many events that take place on Vancouver Island including the Frontrunners Vancouver Island Race Series, Frontrunners GutBuster Race Series, The Bear Mountain 10k and Half Marathon as well as many other events.

Owners Mark Nelson and Nick Walker were recently recognized by Canadian Running Magazine as a Golden Shoe Award winner for their contribution to sports and to various charities. The Q’s Victoria Track Series is pleased to add Frontrunners Footwear as a key sponsor. Look for their presence at the very first meet Saturday, May 12th at the Jack Wallace Memorial Track at Oak Bay High School.

Frontrunners Westshore are located in the heart of Langford in the Goldstream Station Plaza at #123–755 Goldstream Avenue. They also have stores in downtown Victoria and Nanaimo. Visit them online at: www.westshore.frontrunners.ca/

The second sponsor added to the 2013 season is Petals Plus Florist. Petals Plus Florist have agreed to partner with the series in providing bouquets of flowers to all race winners, male and female. They are located at 201 – 3749 Shelbourne Street. Visit them online at www.petalsplus.com.

Petals Plus Florist specialize in providing the freshest flowers in beautiful vases, flower arrangements or flower baskets. Tour their website and you will see just a small sample of their beautiful fresh cut flowers, flower arrangements, roses, flowering plants, gourmet and fruit baskets, plush animals and their selection of world famous Rogers Chocolates. They deliver flowers worldwide.

The Q’s Victoria Track Series takes place primarily at the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium, except for two meets that take place at the Jack Wallace Memorial Track at Oak Bay High School.

The series is available for all levels of runners and joggers from beginners to the elite level – each runner competes at their level. Proceeds from the series are provided to the Mustard Seed Food Bank.

Contact:
Christopher Kelsall
Series Director
info@victoriatrackseries.ca
250-727-7723

Shaw Television will be on-site at the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium recording the second track meet of the season on Saturday, May 26th.

The University of Victoria Vikes men and women’s teams will be competing.

All meets are recorded for consumption on Youtube and Vimeo – great for viewing on your computer however, Shaw will be broadcasting on television as well as hosting on their site, the entire meet.

Register here

Seventy-Eight-year-old Helly Visser who competed in The Q’s Victoria Track Series during the 2011 season is now training for the yearly outdoor Canadian Masters Athletics Competition, that will take place in Saint John, New Brunswick. At the same time it is also North-Central American, Caribbean & Canadian Masters Track & Field Championships. The events take place, August 9-12, Saint John NB.

Visser received the Master of the year in Track & Field for 2011 from Athletics Alberta. Visser said, “I want to thank you again for the good competition I had in Victoria. I am also one of three ladies nominated for the Canadian Track and Field Athlete of the Year”.

Visser competed in the 70-79 age-group in the Q’s Victoria Track Series and took a world age-group record, while being nearly 80-years-of-age (78).