Source for Sports 10 K Road Race achieves record numbers

Source for Sports 10 K Road Race achieves record numbers

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

CAPTION: Mike MacKinnon crosses the finish line with a time of 33 minutes 38 seconds to be the overall leader of the Source for Sports 10 K Summerside Road Race Saturday in Summerside.

Mike MacKinnon finished first overall with a time of 33 minutes 38 seconds at the Source for Sports 10 K Summerside Road Race Saturday morning.

While MacKinnon took home the crown for the fastest man in the race, Hannah Walker finished with the fastest time for the ladies at 40 minutes 36 seconds.

The 10-kilometre race began at Summerside Intermediate School, taking racers down Central Street to Harbour Drive leading into Water Street then up MacEwan Road. From there racers ran, jogged and walked up Walker Avenue to Granville Street, then onto the All Weather Highway and finally to Central Street where they ran back to S.I.S.

The event drew a record amount of participants in it’s 19^th year with 90. All proceeds from the race going to support the Kristen Cameron Trust Fund, race organizer Mike Cameron’s niece who was paralyzed after being hit by a drunk driver.

Cameron was happy with the incredible turn out for the race on Saturday.

“I’m very pleased. You never know when you start the morning,” he said. “As time gets nearer to the race, you’re wondering how many people are going to show up. I’ll certainly thank them for coming here, but I’m not sure they know the proceeds are going to my niece Kristen.”

Cameron is hoping for another big turn out next year.

“100. Let’s go for triple digits,” he laughed.

After winning the race, MacKinnon said he was happy with the way it went.

“I started off a little quick I guess, a couple people went out fast and I just followed. Anyway, they tapered off and I tried to hold, I faded a bit, but all in all it was a nice day.”

For MacKinnon, his biggest motivation for the day was to beat his personal best.

“I had a (personal best) here today and to me that’s what it’s all about. If there was someone else here today they might have won, but I got my (personal best) so that’s all that matters,” he said. “I had just broken it in the spring at the bunny hop, but it was three years I had it previous and I couldn’t beat it.”

CAPTION: Hannah Walker crosses the finish line with a time of 40 minutes, 36 seconds finishing with the best time for women Saturday at the Source for Sports 10 K Summerside Road Race in Summerside.

Walker felt she might have started off to fast, but fixed it early.

“After about three or four K I settled into a decent pace and I felt really strong towards the end and I finished pretty strong.”

Walker said she was really happy passing the finish line.

“That’s what I was looking forward too, just for it to be over. 10 K is not really my distance, five K is my distance I think.”

First Race

Not everyone was as experienced as MacKinnon and Walker. Cory MacDougall finished 68 with a time of one hour and 19 seconds. Though MacDougall has raced before, it was his first 10 K and his longest race.

“I just started off slow. I just came out to see what I could do and do as much as I could do. I just went slow and steady,” said MacDougall. “(At the start) I was just nervous, I didn’t quite know what to expect, didn’t know what I’d be able to do.”

MacDougall described seeing the finish line in his first five K race as “Awesome.”

“It doesn’t matter what the distance, when you see that finish line it’s a real thrill to know you’re almost done.”

MacDougall said he would be back next year to try and defeat his time this year.