From defending champions to Olympians, the contenders for this year’s Under Armour Eastside 10k will ensure it will be a great battle for the top spot on the podium. Here are the top four women and men to watch out for:
Leslie Sexton –
Returning to defend her 2016 Eastside 10k title, Leslie Sexton has been putting in the mileage this summer. Upwards of 200km per week, her Strava account tells no lies about the work she’s been putting in. Winning the Toronto Waterfront 10k this past June in 34:48, Sexton is gearing up for this fall’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon where she will try and break her personal best of 2:33:00.
Lanni Marchant –
An Olympian in both the 10,000m and marathon at the Rio Olympics, and the Canadian record holder in the marathon, Under Armour athlete Lanni Marchant will be racing in her first UA Eastside 10k. Battling health issues earlier this year, Marchant was unable to compete at the 2017 World Track and Field Championships in the marathon this summer, but has her eyes set on hitting a fast marathon in Berlin this fall.
Natasha Wodak –
2016 Olympian, and the 10,000m Canadian record holder, Natasha Wodak will be contending for the top spot on the podium at this year’s Under Armour Eastside 10k. After placing 16th at this summer’s World Track and Field Championships in the 10,000m, Wodak has shown she’s back to her top form after being forced to take a break this winter after having surgery on her foot.
Rachel Cliff –
After hitting the Olympic standard last year, Rachel Cliff has proved again and again that she can contend with the best in the world. Improving her 10,000m time by 15 seconds to 32:07 which put her on her first World Track and Field Championship team this summer in London. Cliff went on to improve that time in London by 7 seconds, for a new personal best of 32:00. She will be a force to be reckoned with at this year’s Under Armour Eastside 10k.
Geoff Martinson –
Geoff Martinson is the defending champion of the 2015 #Uaeastside 10k. Martinson has a history in specializing in shorter distances, with a semi final appearance in the 1500m at the 2011 World Track and Field Championships. With many podium finishes at local road races, he was the former BC Champ in the 5k, the 10k will cater to Martinson’s speedy side.
Dylan Wykes –
One of Canada’s fastest marathoners, Dylan Wykes is a past champion of the #UAEastside10k. Although Wykes is known best for his blazing marathon times, notably his 2:10:47 at the 2012 Rotterdam Marathon, and his 20th place at the London 2012 Olympic Games, don’t discount him on being able to knock of a speedy 10k.
Kevin Coffey –
A recent resident to Vancouver, Coffey made the move out west for better training opportunities and more temperate running weather. His efforts haven’t been for naught. Clocking personal bests in both the 5000m and 10,000m, Coffey’s consistent training has steadily lowered his times showing he will be a sure contender on the 2017 UA Eastside 10k start line.
Theo Hunt –
Working as a full-time teacher during the school year, Theo hasn’t let that deter him from training and achieving personal bests along the way. In 2017, Hunt has bettered his personal bests in the 3000m and 5000m, and has produced competitive times on the local road running circuit too. Having the speed work in his legs from focusing on track this summer, he’ll be looking to translate that onto the roads at this year’s UA Eastside 10k.
