Michael Van Vilisteren, Jacqui Pettersen, Zach Matyas and Shar Balogh didn't let a few pesky flying insects bother them.
They Beat the Bugs as category winners in the Prince George Road Runners' off-road running race Saturday at Otway Nordic Centre.
Van Vilisteren took on a 20-runner men's field on the five kilometre course and was first across the line in 20 minutes 37 seconds. Paul Green (22:10) and Tyson Green (24:09) were second and third respectively.
In the women's 5K, Jacqui Pettersen put her marathon-trained legs to work on the hilly course and won it in 24:19 . Mora Green (27:24) and Natalie Vogt (29:04) joined Pettersen on the medal podium. Thirty-two women entered the race.
In the men's 10 km event, Zach Matyas showed his heels to the rest of a 40-runner field, winning in 49:17. Jim Van Bakel (51:56) and Rob Vogt (52:46) were second and third.
Shar Balogh finished at the head of the 37-women 10 km field. Balogh covered the course in 54:45, ahead of second-place Lindsay Vandermeer (1:02:01) and third-place Mart Charters (1:03:39).
The next Road Runners event is the Blue Spruce race on Sunday, July 9, starting at 9 a.m. at the Forests for the World parking lot at the south end of Kueng Road.
Beat the Bugs results
Five kilometre
Men
1. Michael Van Vilsteren, 20:37; 2. Paul Green, 22:10; 3.Tyson Green, 24:09; 4. Shayne Hoehn, 24:48; 5. Martin Williamson, 24:56; 6. Nicholas Veeken, 25:01; 7. Bill Ransome, 27:21; 8. Ross Browne; 9. Liam Simons, 29:57; 10. Aidan Cotter, 31:14; 11. Dave Callaway, 31:20; 12. Heath Matheson, 32:45; 13. Zack Ricketts, 35:37; 14. Nigel Radway, 35:38; 15. Ray Baker, 36:05; 16 .Umesh Parshotam, 36:49; 17. Kristina Nelless, 37:11; 18. Surjit Minhas, 37:44; 19. Travis Runnalls, Women
1. Jacqui Pettersen, 24:19; 2. Mora Green, 27:14; 3. Natalie Vogt, 29:04; 4. Artemis Douglas, 35:35; 5. Payton Sinclair; 6. Kara Simons, 35:54; 7. Annie Duchesne, 35:56; 8. Sara Cotter, 37:12; 9. Angel Stewart, 37:14; 10. Nicole Barrett, 37:16; 11. Elizabeth Kennedy, 37:23; 12. Melissa Dymond, 37:31; 13. Anna Callaway, 38:20; 14. Natalie Hoehn, 38:20 15. Skye Cadell, 39:33; 16. Maisie Hoehn, 39:38; 17. Karen Moores, 39:40; 18. Elisabeth Veeken, 39:46; 19. Erika Driedger, 40:51; 20. Ceri Siemens, 40:54; 21. Erin Thideman, 40:54; 22. Joyce Chow, 40:55; 23. Sandra Cardenas, 41:58; 24. Annie Horning, 42:08; 25. Laurie Hill, 42:08; 26. Jazmin Cazes, 42:11; 27. Ashley Boyes, 42:34; 28. Solangel Chavez, 45:01; 29. Tennile Walsh, 46:10; 30. Kelly Minard, 46:11; 31. Celina Mallett, 47:16; 32. Ariadne Douglas, 50:25.
10 kilometre
Men
1. Zach Matyas, 49:17; 2. Jim Van Bakel, 51:56;3. Rob Vog, 52:46; 4. Cam McNamara, 53:28; 5. Graeme Paterson, 54:07; 6. Barry Nakahara, 58:30; 7. Andrew Bond, 1:00:56; 8. Eric Lobermayer, 1:02:06; 9. Steven Knowles, 1:03:02; 10. Mark Grasley, 1:03:26; 11. Jason Laurie, 1:04:10; 12. Larry Malmgren, 1:04:10; 13. Will Cadell, 1:05:10; 14. Scott Miller, 1:05:56; 15. Ryan Clendinning, 1:07:18; 16. Scott Rust, 1:07:25; 17. Michael Hess, 1:08:15; 18. TJ Winslade, 1:08:22; 19. Harold Himmelspach, 1:08:30; 20. Brad Bieganski, 1:08:55; 21. John Beebe, 1:09:21; 22. Scott McWalter, 1:09:44; 23. Denny Andrews, 1:12:01; 24. Dennis Straussfogel, 1:12:02; 25. Gunther Lobermayer, 1:12:24; 26. Adam Barlow, 1:12:27; 27. Mark Allison, 1:12:44; 28. Don Wiliams. 1:14:14; 29. Steve Pavich, 1:15:51; 30. Ethan Fredeen, 1:16:00; 31. Luis Gonzalez, 1:16:10; 32. Steven Patsey, 1:18:50; 33. Michael Warr, 1:22:20; 34. James Bourgue, 1:23:17; 35. Curtis Mayes, 1:24:26; 36. Cory Thompson, 1:24:41; 37. Matt Millard, 1:25:40; 38. Patrick Cotter, 1:26:18; 39. John Halovich, 1:26:42; 40. Patrick Smith, 1:35:26.
Women
1. Shar Balogh, 54:45; 2. Lindsay Vandermeer, 1:02:01; 3 . Mary Charters, 1:03:39; 4. Michelle Cyr-Whiting, 1:06:54; 5. Nicole Perrin, 1:08:15; 6. Jenna Leavens, 1:11:49; 7. Mlissa Chappel, 1:11:53; 8. Joanne Ranson, 1:11:58; 9. Sarah Champagne, 1:12:04; 10. Karen Allison, 1:12:44; 11. Jennifer Kubos, 1:14:04; 12. Pat Caron, 1:15:04; 13. Suzanne LeBlanc, 1:15:57; 14. Natalie Bond, 1:16:06; 15. Robin Levant , 1:16:14; 16. Sarah Hollett, 1:18:30; 17. Rachel Horita, 1:19:10; 18. Maegen Scheepers, 1:19:11; 19. Jen Bond, 1:20:09; 20. Tamara Deford, 1:20:30; 21. Miriam Green, 1:22:07; 22. Andrea Fredeen, 1:23:45; 23. Anita Gray, 1:26:33; 24. Jana Hargreaves, 1:26:42; 25. Katelyn McMahon, 1:26:45; 26. Julie Ulbdegrove, 1:26:45; 27. Colleen Ruddy, 1:27:32; 28. Jill Wigmore, 1:27:32; 29. Gabby Hoehn, 1:29:13; 30. Ali Cadell, 1:29:17; 32. Cara Moore, 1:29:42; 33. Kimberley Stewart, 1:33:42; 34. Melissa Lang, 1:35:26 35. Cheryl Schlesinger, 1:41:47; 36. Melanie Taylor, 1:42:01; 37. Nicole Ross, 1:42:10; 38. Jillian Legare,1:46:18.
