After 20+ years, new Half Marathon course record set at the Royal Victoria Marathon
(Victoria, BC – October 8, 2023) — In 2002, three-time Olympian Jon Brown set the Royal Victoria Half Marathon course record at one hour, two minutes and 32 seconds. It had stood for 21 years. Sunday, Cameron Levins from Black Creek, BC (now living in Portland, OR), ran 1:01:18, exactly one-minute off of his Canadian record.
With beautiful race conditions, and two sold out distances, Sunday was the perfect day for the 43rd annual event. For the first time since 2014, registrations surpassed 9000, with racers taking part in one of the five distances being offered in 2023. The marathon had 1,860 registered; the half marathon, 3,835; the 8K, 2259; the new 5K had 632; and 477 in the Thrifty Foods Kids Run for a total of 9069. RVM was host to the BC Athletics Marathon Road Running Championships as well as the Canadian Masters Half Marathon Championships.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day for our 43rd event,” said Cathy Noel, RVM General Manager and Race Director. “So many special moments at the finish line which makes all the hard work that goes into a full year of planning this event so worth it. We couldn’t be happier and are already excited for what we can do in 2024!”
The RVM men’s marathon winner was Aidan Anderson (Campbell River) in a time of 2:29.06. Coming in second was James Lamers (Vancouver, BC) in 2:30:16, followed by Jackson Bocksnick (Victoria, BC) in 2:31:34.
“My goal today was to win,” stated Anderson. “So I’m very glad about that.”
In the women’s race Lydia Tay (Burnaby, BC) in a time of 2:49:49 followed by Christine Bant (Victoria, BC) in 2:50:32, followed by Zoe Hamel (Paris, France now living in Victoria, BC) in 2:52:06.
In the men’s half-marathon, finishing in second was Trevor Hofbauer (Kelowna, BC) in 1:04:07, followed by Kip Kangogo (Lethbridge, AB) in 1:07:46.
“I will say, it was great having all those people cheering me on on the way back through,” said Levins. “There were lots of people yelling my name so that was some extra inspiration.”
A few other records fell in the men’s half marathon including Kangogo setting a new 40-44 age class record of 1:07:46 and Jim Finlayson (Victoria, BC) claiming both a BC and RVM 50-54 age class record with a 1:11:51. David Guss (Kelowna, BC) established a new BC and RVM 60-64 age class record with a time of 1:19:15.
The RVM women’s half marathon winner was Makenna Fitzgerald (Calgary, AB) who set a personal best time of 1:17:30. Coming in second was Eriko Soma (Vancouver, BC) in 1:18:28, followed by Carley Gering (Victoria, BC) in 1:18:57.
Fitzgerald also found inspiration from the thousands who lined the course from start to finish. “It was the perfect day for it, really couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Fitzgerald. “Lots of people came out and the cheers were really helpful.”
The Canadian Masters Athletics Half Marathon Champions were crowned as part of the RVM, with Kip Kangogoand Eriko Soma each winning gold.
The 8K was the first race of the day with Matthew Travaglini (Calgary, AB) taking the win in a time of 23:47. Coming in second was Daniel Mulushet Zewdu (Victoria) in 24:12, followed closely by former UVic Vike Josh Kozelj (Coquitlam, BC) in 24:14.
The RVM women’s 8K winner was Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (Victoria, BC) in a time of 26:43. Coming in second was Kiana Gibson (Vancouver, BC) in 27:17, followed by Katelyn Ayers (Victoria, BC) in 28:08.
In the 8K, Marilyn Arsenault (Victoria, BC) won in a time 30:55, equaling the Canadian record and setting a new BC and RVM Age class record for the 55-59 category.
And finally, for the 5K, which took place on Saturday, the top three finishers were MacKenzie Lascalle (15:56), Liam Stanley (16:11) and Michael Barber (16:31) all from Victoria. Lascalle is a Vike team member and Barber and Stanley are Paralympians. Stanley earned a silver medal in Rio in the 1500m distance.
In the women’s 5K, Maya Fish from Canmore, AB won in 21:23, followed by Lucy Campbell (21:27) and Gabriela Debues-Stafford (21:30), both from Victoria, BC.
Of the 9,069 total registrants, there were 7,442 finishers: 1,444 in the Marathon, 3,132 in the half marathon, 1,855 in the 8K, 534 in the 5K and 477 in the Thrifty Foods Kids Run. The Royal Victoria Marathon will return on October 12 & 13, 2024.
For full results go to: