brand new course and longer distance didn’t stop Coquitlam’s Sandra Walter from winning the elite women’s division for the fourth straight year at Just Another Bike Race (JABR) on Saturday, Aug. 16.
Even more bragging rights were up for grabs this year, as JABR was the host race of the Canadian Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships. Walter beat out nine other women racers with a time of 4:19:26 to win the 60 kilometre course.
Walter beat out Ontario’s Amanda Sin by almost 14 minutes to win the top prize, with Jean-Ann Berkenpas placing third. Brandi Heisterman was the top local female elite rider, finishing fourth with a time of 5:01:54. Squamish’s Stacey Spencer finished eighth at 5:39:42.
Alberta’s Cory Wallace defended his title for the men, beating out Sechelt’s Kris Sneddon by 75 seconds. Wallace completed the course in 3:39:55.
“Fought back in the closing kilometres to overtake Kabush and Sneddon and successfully defend my title at the Canadian Marathon Championships,” he wrote on Facebook. “One more year sporting the maple leaf.”
Geoff Kabush posted a time of 3:48:06 to place third, but said he ran out of steam in the later stages of the race.
“Respect to all Marathon Nats finishers today in Squamish,” he said on Twitter. “Beauty and tough singletrack. Not enough bullets left. Lights went out with 10 km left.”
Quinn Moberg was the lone local male competing in the elite division, but he suffered a DNF.
The regular JABR saw 18-year-old Brady Nolan from Washington State post the only sub-three hour time. Nolan completed the 40 km course in 2:57:10, beating out North Vancouver’s Bob Welbourn by three minutes and 38 seconds. Abbotsford’s Carsten Ivaney grabbed third with a time of 3:02:36.
Squamish’s Eric Goodwin posted the top local time, finishing fourth in a time of 3:04:06. It’s been a busy summer competing for Goodwin, as he’s posted strong showings in the Test of Metal, Orecrusher, Skyline Ridge trail run, Loop the Lakes and Gearjammer.
Other local males in the top 50 included Matteo Abel (11th), Brennan Covey (12th), Chris Christie (17th), Michael Kinney (21st), Rob Phoenix (27th), Stephen Todd (28th), Jeff Desroches (33rd), Zac Gartside (35th), Brendan Hunt (38th) and David Roulston (45th).
Squamish’s Zoe Dawson took home top prize for the recreational females with a time of 3:33:19. Like Goodwin, Dawson has also had a busy summer with good showings in the Test of Metal, Gearjammer and the ƵappTriathlon. Sarah Greenwood of Ƶappalso hit the course and placed fourth with a time of 4:11:52.
For complete results from the race, visit www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=26778.