Davidson, Hanley, Sports

Local runners impress with half-marathon results

Donna Libke, Patti Libke and Ellen Packet are pictured after taking part in the Saskatchewan Marathon in Saskatoon on May 31. Donna completed the five-kilometre run, while Patti and Ellen competed in the half-marathon event.
Donna Libke, Patti Libke and Ellen Packet are pictured after taking part in the Saskatchewan Marathon in Saskatoon on May 31. Donna completed the five-kilometre run, while Patti and Ellen competed in the half-marathon event.

By Joel van der Veen

SASKATOON — Several area residents were among the thousands who hit the trail in the annual Saskatchewan Marathon, held May 31 in Saskatoon.

While none competed in the marathon itself, seven completed the half-marathon — 21.1 km in length — including Wally Peters of Hanley, who finished the race in 1:47:40, putting him in 164th place out of 957 runners.

Also leading the local pack were Ellen Packet of Davidson, and Patti Libke, formerly of Hanley and now residing in Saskatoon, who both completed the half-marathon with a time of 1:54:01.

Packet, 27, said the result was a personal record. She said she began running about two-and-a-half years ago, after competing in a marathon with her friend Katie McNabb.

“She’s not a swimmer, I’m not a runner,” she explained, saying she returned the favour by joining McNabb in a 10-kilometre run a short time later and then continued running herself.

Packet said she has tried to connect with other runners in town, starting a “couch to 5K” program in May with the aim of helping others work up to a five-kilometre run.

A couple of others have joined her, but she said it’s been hard to arrange a time that works for everyone, as some prefer to run in the mornings and others would rather go after work. Others are welcome to join them, she said.

This was Packet’s third time in the Saskatchewan Marathon. She also plans to complete the half-marathon in the BMO Vancouver Marathon on August 15, a week after her wedding.

Other local competitors in the Saskatoon half-marathon included Melissa Nelson of Davidson, 2:09:54; Anne Moren of Simpson, 2:16:04; and Carrie Hart of Dundurn, 4:04:54.

Competing in the 10-kilometre run were Valerie Bradley, Dundurn, 55:00; Jade Van Damme, Imperial, 55:00; Rhonda Kelly, Imperial, 57:02; Michael Schell, Dundurn, 1:00:48; and Gerald Heit, Dundurn, 1:16:45.

Taking part in the five-kilometre run were Donna Libke of Hanley, with a time of 37:30, and Merilee Boyle of Elbow, with a time of 42:18.

Sergii Vashurin, a Ukranian runner from the western city of Chernivtsi, took first place in the full marathon with a time of 2:37:55, while Erin Gardiner of Saskatoon finished in first among the women with a time of 3:00:21.