BMO Vancouver Marathon to host BC Half Marathon Championships on May 1, 2016
Top BC athletes to be rewarded bonus prize money as part of a new BC Super Series
Vancouver, BC – December 10, 2015 – The fast 21.1KM Half Marathon at the BMO Vancouver Marathon was selected by BC Athletics as one of British Columbia’s best road races and will now play host to the BC Half Marathon Championships on May 1, 2016.
In collaboration with twelve of BC’s top road races, BC Athletics, the Provincial non-profit amateur sport organization for Road Running, has also launched the new BC Super Series for 2016 that will reward more than $100,000 in series prize money to BC athletes. It is a new effort to bring BC’s best athletes together in competition, and to encourage participation from all abilities with a participation based reward for frequent finishers.
While twelve races compile the BC Super Series, only five garner championship status over the race distances of 5KM, 8KM, 10KM, Half Marathon and Marathon. The point-to-point Half Marathon at the 2016 BMO Vancouver Marathon will now see top athletes from BC racing for the provincial title.
“The Vancouver International Marathon Society is thrilled to be a part of the BC Super Series, and to host the BC Half Marathon Championships at the BMO Vancouver Marathon on May 1, 2016,” adds Charlene Krepiakevich, Executive Director of the Vancouver International Marathon Society, organizers of the annual BMO Vancouver Marathon.
“We are certain Vancouverites will be excited to watch and cheer for top BC athletes as they complete for this title, and we encourage you to run with them, cheer or volunteer on race day.”
The BMO Vancouver Half Marathon is a beautiful point-to-point journey that begins at Queen Elizabeth Park and features a fast downhill start with spectacular city skyline, North Shore mountain and False Creek water views. After crossing Cambie Bridge, runners past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks with a course that tours Chinatown, Yaletown, the West End, Coal Harbour, beaches and Stanley Park, before heading towards an energized downtown Finish Line with raving fans.
A favourite among local runners, the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon event is capped at 10,000 runners, so runners are encouraged to register early to secure their spot and be a part of this BC Half Marathon Championship event.
Elite athletes will be competing for not only BC Super Series prizing, but also Elite Prizing Overall, plus bonus cash prizing for Top Canadian Athletes, Top BC Athletes, Masters 40+, and Course Records.
1:02:36 and 1:12:53 are the Half Marathon course records males and females will be respectively chasing, while 2:18:37 and 2:37:00 are the Marathon times males and females are trying to better on Vancouver’s only marathon course.
To further attract top local athletes, the BMO Vancouver Marathon is offering automatic ‘Elite Status’ acceptance to those ranked Top 10 in BC this year according to the overall rankings of Athletics Canada.
To learn more about the BC Super Series, please visit bcathletics.org/BCSuperSeries
Register Now for the BMO Vancouver Marathon!
