Smart Sport Performance Update: June 2011

Smart Sport athletes were very active in June, at race distances spanning 800 meters to 100 miles!

At the Ontario Masters Championships on June 5, Canadian team member Rita Quibell won the 800m and 1500m, and in the process broke a 23 year-old meet record in the 800m. Two weeks later, she won the 800m and 1500m at the Canadian Masters Championships. On her way to the win in the 1500m, her 5:17.97 broke a 22 year-old meet record. These events will prepare her for the World Masters Athletics Championships in Sacramento, California in July.

At the other end of the running spectrum, Josh Kennedy returned to California for his second attempt at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. In 2002, he completed the event in 29:08. This year, his time was 23:09. For his efforts, he received the coveted "Silver Belt Buckle". Josh was featured in this article after the event concluded. There was one significant error in the article – Josh did in fact complete the 2002 event!

The fine performances continued in the world of triathlon. At the Sweetwater Sprint Triathlon, Scott Burris finished 11th overall (3rd in age group) with a time of 1:17:32. This year's Buffalo Springs Lake Half Ironman in Lubbock, Texas was a hot one, with temperatures over 105 degrees and winds over 30 mph. A convection oven might have been a better place to hold a race! But Burris finished BSLT in a time of 5:43:27 - a 31 minute personal best! Pete Carton made a triumphant return to the world of long distance triathlons with a fine 6:35:17. Greg Hogan of Lubbock, who has completed this event more than just about anyone on the planet, put in a 6:07:18 on one of the most difficult days, condition-wise, that he has experienced on the BSLT course.