New additions stack women’s Half Marathon field at the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon
Lisa Brooking, centre with the bright Saucony kicks, is back to defend her BC Half Marathon Championship title
The new additions of Canadian Olympians Natasha Wodak and Hilary Stellingwerff, plus the return of BC Half Marathon champion Lisa Brooking, adds to a stacked field of championship contenders at the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon in May.
Canadian Olympian and locally born Natasha Wodak returns to the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon after winning in 2013 and 2012 with a time of 1:15:12.
Wodak is also a prior winner of the Vancouver Sun Run, and one of many who will continue their running journey with the BC Super Series post Sun Run.
Hilary Stellingwerff represented Team Canada in the Olympics both in 2016 in Rio and 2012 in London competing in the 1500m event.
Lisa Brooking is the returning female BC Half Marathon champ. Having run a personal best of 1:16:04, Brooking was invited to join the Canadian national team at the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships this past March, competing in her first world championship.
Wodak, Stellingwerff and Brooking join a talented group of women headlined by Jane Murage of Kenya, who will be going for her third-straight overall win.
Returning athletes Catrin Jones (CAN) and Kate Gustafson (CAN), newcomers Gladys Tarus (KEN), Emily Setlack (CAN), and Robyn Mildren (CAN) will also run the Half Marathon this year.
On the men’s side, former Olympian and local Dylan Wykes is the favourite for the BC Half Marathon championship that is hosted in conjunction with BC Athletics.
“BC Athletics is delighted at the prospect of some keen competition for the BC Championship honours at the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon,” says Maurice Wilson of BC Athletics. “The BC Super Series encourages participation as well as performance, and the BMO Vancouver Marathon event supports both those goals.”
The BC Super Series is collaboration between BC Athletics and 12 of BC’s best road races, with the next Vancouver race at the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon on Sunday, May 7.
For a full list of 2017 invited athletes at the BMO Vancouver Marathon and Half Marathon, please visit bmovanmarathon.ca/invited-athletes