A runner crosses the Melfort Multi-K finish line at the Kerry Vickar Centre, completing the 21.1 km race (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff).

By Aaron Schulze

Melfort Multi-K

Melfort Multi-K welcomes runners from across Western Canada

Sep 21, 2019 | 2:57 PM

Nearly 575 runners registered for the 2019 Melfort Multi-K races Saturday.

While the morning was a little too cool for some athletes, the event still saw a strong turnout from its sold out registration list.

Melfort Multi-K started nearly 10 years ago when local doctor Richard VanderRoss was looking to get his patients something to work towards. The first event of the day featured races from one to 21 kilometres with 450 participants.

Allison Rogers, the race director , said the races have attracted runners from as far west as Kelowna, B.C., as far east as Winnipeg, and other Saskatchewan communities such as Prince Albert, Regina, and Saskatoon.

“Probably 50 per cent of participants aren’t from Melfort, which is pretty cool that we’ve got that spread,” Rogers said. “We have a lot of people who use it as a homecoming weekend. They come home and spend the weekend with their families, then they all participate. It has just become a super fun family event.”

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The most popular race was the 5 km distance with 275 participants, while there were 50 runners bold enough to run the daunting 21 km race. Rogers was pleased to see a sell out for that longer distance as its attendance has dwindled over the years.

Before the adult races began, Melfort Multi-K hosted a 1 km kid’s fun run with 150 kids getting to participate for free thanks to a local sponsor.

“We believe health and fitness starts at a young age,” Rogers said. “We’ve got little guys who are barely two-years-old out there running.”

Rogers feels Melfort Multi-K evolved from a run to an event right off the bat, calling it a “very small-town community” with support from residents and sponsors in Melfort and area.

Climbing walls, food stands, and photo booths are some of the added features Melfort Multi-K adds to make the races feel like a family event (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff).

In 2020, Melfort Multi-K will run for the 10^th time. Rogers said a designing contest will be held to determine what the medals will look like for the milestone, along with other ideas in the works.

Results

5 km

M: Pat Long – 00:21:16.0

F: Jennifer Souter – 00:22:12.0

10 km

M: Curtis Strueby – 00:44:22.0

F: Melissa Koroll – 00:46:25.0

21.1 km

M: Ken Eade – 1:33:30.0

F: Karen Strukoff – 1:35:41.0

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow