Shar Balogh and Jacqui Benson are used to hearing each other's footsteps as they approach finish lines.
Whether it's cross-country ski, running or multidisciplinary sporting events, they have a long history of close completion times and it was no different Sunday at the 15th annual Emporer's Challenge Half Marathon Mountain run in Tumbler Ridge.
After 20 kilometres and 2,050 feet of elevation gain, less than three minutes separated the two Prince George athletes atop the female overall standings and Balogh (nee Jackson) broke the tape first in one hour 47 minutes 19 seconds, followed in a second place by Benson (1:50:17). The two women ranked ninth and 10th respectively in the overall race standings.
Meanwhile, in the men's race, Jim Van Bakel of Prince George ended up fifth overall in 1:43:12, 18 minutes behind men's champion Kris Swanson of Victoria (1:25:18). Van Bakel was the top finisher in the men's masters age category.
In other Prince George men's results, Jonathan Taylor was 21st overall in 1:54:48, Trevor Hoff was 34th (2:08:04) and Benjamin Kaplan was 43rd (2:12:35). Tam Jansen of Prince George placed 42nd among women and 120th overall (3:37:00).
