Home

Schedule

Results

Membership

CMAC

Newsletter

News

Links

Race Directors

Burk Memorial 5K, 1 December 2007.
Taylor and Stick Set Records at Burk Race.

Ryan Taylor, who has used his cross-country training to finish first and second in the last two club races, and Sherry Stick, who set a female record in winning the overall title last year, dominated the field as they each set course records in the fourth annual Burk Memorial 5K.

With further and seemingly long-delayed work on the Burk Linear Trail finally in progress, meaning that the current course may never be used again, Taylor and Stick grabbed the early lead and gradually separated themselves from the rest of the pack. In a situation not normally seen in recent WRRC races, there were more fast male teens in the race than male masters runners, and the teens did a better job, especially on the hilly sections.

At the end of the out-and-back segment on Tahoma Farm Road, about a kilometer's worth of distance, the field was nicely separated, and at the three kilometer mark, the only question was whether Taylor could beat Stick or vice versa. As the lead two finished the second loop of the cross-country section of the course by lapping many still on the first loop, Taylor captured both the race record and the course record, set by Dave Griffin at the 2006 Flower and Jazz Festival 5K on the same course. The first five male finishers beat the 2006 winning Burk male time, a testimony to good weather conditions and speed at the front of the pack.

As the first female to break 20:00, which she did in winning last year's Burk race, it was only fitting that Stick also became the first female to break 19:00. She now owns the second and third fastest times on this course, in use since 2004 and host to six races, four Burk editions and two Flower and Jazz editions.

Another record, although one which will probably not be remembered by as many people, was established when Chrissy Pennington, who finished as the second female in a close race at the 2006 Flower and Jazz Festival 5K on this course, set an all-parents record for the Baby Jogger division. A much relieved Glenn Smink would proably not have run nearly so fast if anyone else had been in his rear view mirror.

For those fans of the Flower and Jazz Festival 5K, whose next edition is scheduled for May, course architect Gary Honeman will be investigating the latest improvements to the Burk Linear Trail during the winter to determine if the out-and-back section of the Burk 5K/Flower and Jazz Restival 5K course will be retired. Further information will likely be available in the Spring-Summer edition of the club newsletter, which should be available next April. You are advised not to hold your breath.