Kamloops Marathon a family affair

Posted on July 27, 2014 in Community, Sports, Top Story // 0 Comments

Tatsuya and Rika Hatachi celebrate their victories.

Men’s Marathon winner Tatsuya Hatachi (centre) with Barry Young and Ken Ginnan on podium.

Women’s Marathon winners congratulate each other: Rika Hatachi (centre), with Shaista Fatehali and Marie-josee Bedard.

Husband and wife team Tatsuya Hatachi and Rika Hitachi hoist winner’s trophy.

SPORTS (Updated Monday, July 28, 3:31 p.m.) — It was a great day for a race as more than 400 took part in Sunday’s third running of the Kamloops Marathon.

It was a great day for families, too, as many runners ran with those closest to them. As it happens, the two fastest marathoners of the day are husband and wife. Tatsuya Hatachi of Coquitlam posted the best time in the full marathon with 2:52:39.7, while his wife Rika topped the women’s marathon at 3:14:53.8.

The podium is a familiar place for Tatsuya, 47, and Rika, 46, who have topped the field in many B.C. races over the past several years. Tatsuya was four in last year’s Kamloops Marathon and Rika was second.

Barry Young was second to Tatsuya Hatachi in the men’s this year, clocking a 2:55.57.9, and Ken Ginnan was third with 2:59:28.2. Shaista Fatehali was second in the women’s, 3:28:00.6, while Marie-Josee Bedard was third at 3:30:46.

Other major categories included:

Half marathon male: Ryan Pidhirniak (1:19:15.3), Rick Brewster (1:20:53.8), Benjamin Achtem (1:24:48:2).

Half marathon female: (Rachel Lobay (1:30:59.5), Allison Blackmore (1:32:10.5). Laura Drennan (1:34:05.5).

8K male: Bryce Turner (0:29:21.9), Gord Humphrey (0:33:00.1), Don Brimacombe (0:33:57.1).

8K female: Karla Griffin (0:36:08.7), Hannell Ladyman (0:37:30.8), Alicia Jimenez (0:38:08.7).

Marathon Relay: TRU (3:37:48.3), Mind Over Miles (3:59:02.3), Smile With Every Mile (4:02:04.7), Jazz (4:10:01.4), EMRG: 4:27:22.2).

Full results are at zone4.ca.

The weather smiled upon the event with clear skies but relatively cool air for the 6 a.m. start, with most runners beating the heat and crossing the finish line at McArthur Island by 11:30.