Matt Martin (far right) and Brandon Wladyko (2nd from the right) lead out the 8 km at the 2016 Steve Burgess Memorial XC Running Race

An unfortunately fall in the final 800m was the deciding factor in a very exciting Men’s 8 km event at the Steve Burgess Memorial/ACAC #4 Cross Country race on Saturday at the Wapiti Nordic Trails.

A lead group consisting of GPRC’s Brandon Wladyko, Augustana’s Matt Martin, and the Running Room’s Matt Norminton separated themselves from the rest of the field by the 3 km mark of the race.  With a kilometre remaining, Norminton fell off the pace leaving Wladyko and Martin vying for the win.  Rounding a sharp corner in the final stages of the race, Wladyko took a tumble, allowing Martin to open up a decisive 25m gap which was maintained to the finish.  Martin recorded a time of 29:43, 10 seconds better than Wladyko.  Norminton hung on for third.

Wladyko’s GPRC team mates also took part in the event placing 15^th – Josh Malmsten , 20th-  Zach Malmsten, 25th – Jarrad St. Arnault, and 28th – Jon Parenteau.

Peace Country Wolves Athletics Club runners Eric Nooy and Joel Demarcke had strong showings, finishing  5th and 8th respectively.

In the team competition, the Wolves placed third behind the winning squad from Red Deer College.  Concordia University of Edmonton placed second.

Jamie Wigmore finishing first in the Women’s 5 km at the 2016 Steve Burgess Memorial

The Women’s 5 km event was dominated by Peace Country Wolves Athletics Club athletes.  Jamie Wigmore took the win in 20:09, 11 seconds ahead of 17-year old teammate Bailey Haugen.  Bailey’s mom Nicki placed third.

The GPRC Wolves women’s team had a strong showing led by Andrea Snider’s 8^th place finish.  Other Wolves finishers included Maria Houle (11^th), Kailey Bratland (15^th), Brittany Duvall (19^th), Ashley Camsell (26^th), Davis Alton (28^th), Karina Manz (31^st), and Megan Hopkins (34^th).  Christie Shepherd suffered a pulled calf muscle and did not finish.

Collectively the Wolves women placed second, behind Red Deer College.  Concordia University of Edmonton was third.

Start of the Elm and Jr High Race at the 2016 Steve Burgess Memorial XC Running Race

Other category winners included:

Junior Elm Girls 2 km   Taylor Wasylchew

Junior Elm Boys 2 km     Aiden Frith

Senior Elm Girls 2 km      Carrisa Elliot

Senior Elm Boys 2 km      Max Probst

Junior High Girls 3 km     Ashley Wangler  Dawson Creek

Junior High Boys 3 km    Kobe   Grocholski   Beaverlodge

Senior High Girls 3 km    Emilie Davis   Grande Prairie

Senior High Boys 5 km    Tate Haugen      Ft St John

Masters Women 5 km    Nicki Haugen      Ft St John

Masters Men 8 km      Warren Magrum

The Steve Burgess Memorial was race #5 in the 2016 Peace Country Wolves XC Running Series.  The next event in this series takes place on October 22

The race was also race #4 in the 2016 ACAC XC Running Grand Prix.  Race #5 takes place in two weeks time in Camrose.

Full results of Steve Burgess Memorial are linked here.