History of the Vancouver Marathon

1970's

In 1972, Tom Howard of Surrey, BC led a handful of marathoners around five loops of Stanley Park to complete the first "British Columbia Marathon."  Winning in a time of 2:24:08, Howard won again the following two years.

The 1973-1978 marathons were called the "Lions Gate Road Runners International Marathon."

Local Joe Skaja won in 1975. Then in 1976, Ross Jackson, New Zealander living in Vancouver took the title, while Doris Heritage of Seattle, Washington became the first woman to finish in under three hours.

1977 became a year of growth – with participants tripling to 300. Two first-time marathoners, Chris Boltar of Vancouver and Mike Creery of Victoria, BC surprised the crowds by placing first and second with times of 2:22:36 and 2:24:15 respectively.

Unfortunately, the 1976 race was marred by the death of Dr. Leslie Truelove who collapsed and died on the course as a result of an aneurysm. Since then, the Dr. Leslie Truelove Memorial Trophy has been awarded to the first male finisher in the 50+ age category.

In 1978, John Hill of Vancouver won with a time of 2:20:49 while Gail McKean of Comox, BC finished at 2:55:33. An Australian named Bill Scott became the first non- BC runner to win the 1979 marathon with a time of 2:15:56 starting an Australian winners’ streak for the next two years.

1980's

In 1980, racers had a hot, hot, hot race! With temperatures soaring well into the seventies, almost ten percent of the racers did not finish. Gary Henry won that year with a time of 2:13:14.

In 1981, Australian Brian Morgan won in 2:16:27, while local Nancy McLaren was the first woman to break the tape in 2:48:23.

In 1982, Vancouver’s own Steve Pomeroy cruised to victory with a dominating race margin of nearly seven minutes at 2:16:56. Meanwhile Sue Krenn from California took the top female spot beating local Paula Pick by a mere two seconds at 2:45:25.

The 1983 race is remembered as the “long marathon” after a spotter at Brockton Point in Stanley Park misdirected runners for an extra 561 yards! Nevertheless, Toronto’s Paul Bannon won the race in 2:19:42.

1984 was a milestone year as prize money was offered for the first time, and a new race course starting and finishing at BC Place was established. Ric Sayre of Ashland, Oregon took home the prize in the men’s division with a time of 2:16:34 and Carol Raven of New Zealand won with a time of 2:52:03.

In 1985, four marathons were planned in British Columbia alone. With new race options and a declining economy, sponsors became a rare breed. Despite rumours that the VIM was folding, the race ran as scheduled with Adrian Wellington of Australia winning with a time of 2:24:24 and Kikue Teshima, the first female Japanese winner, completed the course in 2:55:32.

Two days after the opening of the world’s fair, Expo ’86, the VIM hosted its largest race yet with 2,400 participants on a new race course. For the first time, the start and finish line were at different locations beginning downtown and ending at Kitsilano Beach.

1985 also sparked a three-year Japanese men’s winning streak. Hiromi Nishi won in 1986, Tetsuji Iwase won in 1987, and Mitsumasa Matsuyama in 1988.

The female category winner was Joi Belyk of Saskatoon, Washington State’s Cathy Droll took 1987 with a time that qualified her for the Olympic trials (2:46:50), and Isabelle Ditberner of North Vancouver won in 1988.

Students took the top spots in 1989. Thirty-year-old University of Oregon student Shermi Sabag broke the tape for the men and 29-year-old Anne Mangai, a Ph.D. student from the University of Alberta in only her second marathon, took the women’s title.

1990's

1990 saw victory for Japanese runners again in the men’s and women’s heats with Yoshikazu Tanase (a 26-year-old auto painter from Yokkaichi, Japan, he was the first runner out of Stanley Park and maintained the lead by the time he crossed Lions Gate bridge) and Reiko Hirosawa of Tokyo coming out on top.

1991 favoured BC’s Kevin Titus of Whistler as he had run the same course in ’90 with the top Canadian time. However, at the 35 kilometer mark, Japan’s Shigemi Tamori took the lead. With his two kilometer lead, Tamori waited out an unscheduled train for five seconds before proceeding to the finish line to break the tape. In the same year, Japan’s Misao Miyata surpassed 1989 winner Anne Mangal of Edmonton to break the tape. Mangal, who had endured recent fractures, accepted her defeat graciously saying that she was “just happy to finish.”

The closest VIM ever, 1992 saw Japan’s Masato Kojlma edge out his countryman by only a fraction of a second with his 2:23:24 time. Mamaro came in at 2:23:25 and then collapsed at the finish line. Japan’s Yuka Terenuma, 24, was the first female finisher that year at 2:43:16.

The men’s course record was broken in 1993 with Hayashi Morozumi’s time of 2:18:37 on the recently developed race course through Vancouver and North Vancouver. In the women’s race, Eniko Feher of Hungary won with a time of 2:47:27. A special highlight was the presence of Mexico’s Arturo Ruiz Verde, a soft-spoken cerebral palsy victim and runner of 15 marathons on crutches who had come to run in his hero’s (the late Terry Fox) hometown. Though he just fell short of completing the marathon, he fulfilled a dream the next day when he met the Fox family.

In 1994, the women’s title was again won by Feher of Hungary with a time of 2:46:24. The men’s division was won by Japan’s Makoto Sasaki who led from start to finish at 2:17:24.

1997 was won for the third time by Eniko Feher of Hungary in 2:49:56 and for the second consecutive time by Mexico’s Juan Salvador Gonzalez in 2:22:53.

The domination by Salvador Gonzalez continued in 1998 with a time of 2:22:48. The women’s category was won by Krystyna Pieczulis of Poland in a time of 2:43:20.

Although 1999 was a wet year, it didn’t stop Atsunari Saito from Japan from winning with a 2:21:33 time nor Krystyna Pieczulis from Poland from winning the women’s division for the second year in a row with a 2:43:46.

2000's to Present

In 2000, Krystyna Pieczulis continued her winning ways with her third victory and a time of 2:45:32. The men’s winner was Uli Steidl of Germany with a time of 2:18:53.

Uli Steidl returned to win the 30th anniversary running in a close win ahead of Kenyan, Charles Subano with a time of 2:18:56. Krystyna Pieczulis realized defeat in her attempt at four wins in a row when unknown Leteyesus Berhe from Ethiopia arrived to take victory with a time of 2:45:51. Krystyna finished with a 2:46:04.

2002 proved that strange things can happen. The weather brought rain, sun, wind and hail, but didn’t stop Uli Steidl from a triple victory and a new course record of 2:17:01. Angela Strange became the first Canadian woman to win in 12 years with a time of 2:45:46.

2003 Uli Steidl completes his record fourth win with a time of 2:20:22. Angela Strange was no stranger to victory as she completed her second consecutive win of the VIM with a time of 2:46:22.

2004 is when the VIM became the Uli Steidl Marathon. Steidl went on to win his amazing 5th consecutive VIM marathon with a time of 2:18:24. US runner, Mary Akor, finished her first victory in the VIM with a time of 2:44:43.

2005 saw several new faces take the crown. Uli Steidl’s 5-year incredible winning streak dissolved when Ethiopian Kassahun Kabiso crossed the finish line in 2:15:40, shaving off almost two minutes to make a new course record. Another first time VIM participant, Rima Dubovik from Ukraine, came in at 2:44:05 ahead of last year’s winner Mary Akor to wear the women’s crown. VIM also hosted its first world record. Betty Jean McHugh of North Vancouver ran a 4:10:46 full marathon, establishing the record for females aged 75 to 79.

2006 made history when a women, Malgorzata Sobanska, from Poland, placed in the top overall 10. Her time was 2:37:06 placing 1st in the women’s Marathon division. 2006 also saw Kassahun Kabiso repeat his 2005 win with a finish time of 2:18:29. 

2007 saw Claudia Camargo of Argentina break the VIMS women's record with a time of 2:36:00. She placed an amazing third overall, another BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon record. The men's event was won by Thomas Omwenga, from Kenya, with a time of 2:25:23, defeating two-time male champion, from 2005 to 2006, Kassahun Kabiso, who placed second this year.

The 2007 women’s time was the fastest.

2008 was another dominating performance by the humble Thomas Omwenga in the BMO Vancouver Marathon.  Thomas ran to a stunning time of 2:15:59, one of the fastest times ever recorded in Vancouver.  On the women's side, Mary Akor made her first performance in Vancouver and took first place in a time of 2:37:54.

2009 brought great weather and fast conditions to the BMO Vancouver Marathon.  Bernard Onsare from Kenya (living in Calgary) ran a very strategic race taking the win in 2:28:26.  It was Bernard's first Vancouver victory.  Mary Akor returned to Vancouver to take her second BMO Vancouver Marathon title.  She had run with the best in Boston only three weeks prior but had enough in the tank to take the victory in 2:46:24.

2010 saw the return of the great Thomas Omwenga.  Thomas was not pushed from the field but pushed is own limits to finish in a fast time of 2:16:55.  The women's side of the field had a new champion.  Emmah Muthoni Kiruki-Tampa was a clean winner from the field with her fast early pace and strong ability to hold on in the later stages of the race finishing with 2:37:16.

2011 celebrated the 40th year of the Vancouver Marathon.  The event was held on a beautiful May 1st 2011.  2009 Champion Benard Onsare took the Men’s title in a time of 2:19:59.  On the women’s side, 21 year old CDN (Kelowna, BC) Keddi-Anne Sherbino took the overall women’s title in a time of 2:43:40.  It was the first time since 2002 that a Canadian took the overall women’s marathon title.  The 40th year was celebrated by the return of the inaugural Men’s Overall Champion, Tom Howard who placed 4th in his age category in the 21.1km event.

 

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