It’s been an exciting year for the Saskatchewan running community, with athletes breaking provincial and national records and local groups celebrating major milestones. As 2023 draws to a close, we take a look at some of the most notable moments from the past 12 months.
Did we miss anything or do you want to share your favourite running story of 2023? Drop me a line at andrea@brainsport.ca.
Six Star world record goes down
The 2023 Tokyo Marathon in March set a Guinness World Record for the most people to earn a Six Star medal at a single marathon, with 3,033 runners earning the coveted hardware. At least one of those runners was from Saskatoon. Read Pat Somerville’s story.
Savannah Sutherland had an incredible year
The young runner from Borden, now training and studying at the University of Michigan, clocked 51.60 seconds for the 400m at the NCAA championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico in March. The time made her the fastest Canadian over that distance. Sutherland went on to become the NCAA champion and national champion in the 400-m hurdles later in the year.
Brainsport bids farewell to Run Club after 30+ years
Brainsport’s Wednesday night Run Club started on Wednesday July 17, 1991 and ran until March 11, 2020 when the pandemic changed everything. Over the course of nearly 30 years, there were roughly 2,500 free run sessions at Brainsport. Run Club never resumed after the pandemic-imposed break and Brainsport formally marked the end of the club in March with a Run Club Reunion Run. Read more about the decision here.
Oodles of Saskatchewan track records go down
Saskatchewan Athletics recorded roughly dozens of new provincial indoor and outdoor track and field records this year in the senior, open and master’s divisions. Check out this interview with Lynne Wawryk-Epp, who set three W65 indoor records and this piece with Gwyneth Woodson, who set three W70 indoor records. For a full list of records, head to the Sask. Athletics website.
Mendel Riverbank parkrun celebrates 100th run
The free weekly five-kilometre running and walking event kicked off its inaugural run on Jan. 4, 2020, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a suspension of in-person gatherings. Despite the interruption, the group got back on track and celebrated its 100th event on May 6. For more information on the event, visit its website.
Victoria runner breaks 33-year-old Sask. Marathon record
In her fourth marathon, 31-year-old Christine Bant ran 2:54:04 to win the Saskatchewan Marathon on May 28. It was a 76-second personal best and a whopping five minutes and 32 seconds below the women’s course record of 2:59:36 set by Donna Grisak in 1990. Read our post-race Q&A with Bant.
Sask. tops NAIG standings
Team Saskatchewan came home with 175 medals from the 2023 North American Indigenous Games, which happened in Halifax over the summer. NAIG, which is held every four years, brings together people from 756 Indigenous nations to celebrate, share, connect and compete across a wide range of team and individual sports — including athletics — in the under-14, -16 and -19 age groups. Read our interview with track athletes Jarrett, Jayvin and Kinley Cross Child who each competed in several events in the U16 and U19 divisions.
Sask. athletes take home 25 medals at Bell Canadian Track & Field Championships
The haul included a Canadian record by Maitlan Knoke in the F56 shot put.
Sask. athletes named to youth national teams
It was an exciting summer and fall for some young Saskatchewan track and field athletes who donned the Team Canada kit at international competitions. Among them were Michael Hussey (800m, Commonwealth Youth Games), Daniella Oyenuga (long jump, U20 Pan American Championships), Storm Zablocki (100m, U20 Pan American Championships) and Stryker Zablocki (100m, NACAC U18/U23 Championships).
Sask. athletes represent at 2023 World Athletics Championships
Anicka Newell, a dual Canadian-American citizen who trains in the U.S. but has family in Saskatoon, competed in the pole vault, finishing 24th with a best attempt of 4.35 metres. Michelle Harrison, who trains with the Saskatoon Track & Field Club, advanced to the semi-finals of the 100-metre hurdles, where she finished eighth in her heat. Savannah Sutherland advanced to the semi-finals in the 400-metre hurdles and finished sixth in her heat.
Beaver Flat 50 hosts 2023 NACAC Mountain and Trail Running Championships
The 2023 NACAC Mountain and Trail Running Championships were held in conjunction with Beaver Flat 50, which happens each September at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. It marked the first time the international event had been held in Saskatchewan. Team USA took the overall title, followed by Canada and Mexico.
Step Up for Mental Health steps up as provincial championships
Cameco’s Step Up for Mental Health Run/Walk held its inaugural event in 2019 and has quickly become one of Saskatchewan’s most popular road running events. This past fall it served as the Saskatchewan Championships for the 5km, 10km and half marathon distances and marked its most successful year ever, with more than 6,700 people participating either in person or virtually and raising more than $700,000 for mental health support in Saskatchewan.
Did we miss anything or do you want to share your favourite running story of 2023? Drop me a line at andrea@brainsport.ca.
