From the competitive runners breaking the five-minute mark to Papa Smurf and his brood dressing up the event with style, St. Paul Rodeo Mile brought another year of racing action down main street and to the landing pad on Sept. 2.
Eighty-seven competitors took part in this year’s event, with younger children having the opportunity to take part in a quarter mile, and children, youth and adults tackling the mile run.
“I’m really pleased; it’s our best turnout for that particular event,” said Doug Zarowny, president of the Northeast Alberta Track and Field Club that organizes the annual event that leads into the rodeo parade.
He expressed his amazement at “those young whipper-snappers” that took off like lightning at the firing of the starting pistol, with Mallaig’s Kirk Sundt leading the way and finishing in the open male category at 4:49.13, followed closely by his brother, Zackery Sundt at 5:14.55 and running friend Madeleine Cummings finishing third at 5:24.21.
“I think it’s just amazing; any time you’re getting close to that five-minute mark, I think that’s remarkable,” Zarowny said, noting Sundt came in close to the course record set by Ian Manyfingers, at 4:31. “That’s getting to be world class.”
Sundt is originally from Mallaig, but works as a Phys. Ed teacher in Leduc. He explained he was visiting his family in St. Paul during the long weekend, when his brother suggested they both run the rodeo mile. He’s run cross-country throughout high school and university, and continued to train, so he said he decided to hop in.
“The time I posted wasn’t my best mile time, but I still put a solid effort in,” he said, adding that after finishing a half marathon on Aug. 20, he has been doing easier runs, rather than focusing on speed.
“It was an awesome experience – I love how the community is out in their lawn chairs, waiting for the parade, but supporting the runners,” he said. “It’s a great feel for a fast race.”
While several people come from surrounding track clubs in places like Edmonton, Iris Cundliffe may have been the competitor from furthest away, in Bermuda. Cundliffe is a sister to Tom Starosielski, the former NEAT president, and she set the female master’s record of 6:38.35 on the day.
Sisters Jen Leroux and Katie Gerlinsky, along with their kids, run the rodeo mile every year with their children, and always in a new theme. Last year, the pair came in dressed as a pair of witches from the Wizard of Oz, with Gerlinsky dressed in a ball gown.
“Of course (the race) had wind – it was like running with a kite attached to her,” said Leroux, adding that this year, they were looking for something a little less cumbersome, striking upon the idea of coming as a Smurf family.
Leroux’s husband also joined in for the first time, dressing up as Papa Smurf to go along with his blue-faced crew. As much fun as the group has dressing up, they also love the kids’ reactions on seeing their costumes, as children nudged each other and pointed out with delight, “Look, it’s the Smurfs!”
“When you get the crowd involved, it just makes it that more exciting,” said Leroux. “Everyone is so encouraging - it’s so nice.”
Several area residents do take part in the race for fun, and that local participation is important, said Zarowny. However, he noted that having athletes come from out-of-town allows both runners and spectators to see “what is possible. You need that awe factor to push yourself harder and want to be more competitive.”
He said that next year, organizers would give more advance notice of the race to other track clubs, so that athletes could work specifically on their speed training prior to coming out to the rodeo mile.
“We’re going to do it bigger and better next year.”
The quarter mile also took place with 14 kids pushing themselves to get to the finish line in record time, with Ava Corriveau finishing first in 1:27.49 to win the U9 female medal, U9 competitor Taryn Cundliffe coming in second at 1:37.47, Carley Schamber coming in third at 1:43.23 to get the U7 female medal, and Miller Corriveau coming in at 1:44.21 for the U7 male medal.
Peewee female: Kaitlyn Foote (St. Paul) 7:21.43
Peewee male: Rylan Cundliffe, (Bermuda) 6:55.21
Bantam female: Layla McCaffery, (Edmonton) 6:10.93
Bantam male: Eric Hurtubise, (St. Paul) 6:39.03
Midget female: Madison Ford (Edmonton) 5:35.39
Midget male: Dustin Dubrule, (St. Paul) 5:41.19
Youth female: Olivia Cooper (Edmonton) 5:42.99
Youth male: Josh Foote (St. Paul) 6:38.89
Junior female: Mienna Starosielski (Ashmont) 6:27.37
Junior male: Aidan Cooper (Edmonton) 5:28.03
Open female: Madeleine Cummings (Edmonton) 5:24.21
Open male: Kirk Sundt (Mallaig) 4:49.13
Master female: Iris Cundliffe (Bermuda) 6:38.35 (new record)
Master male: Doug Zarowny (St. Paul) 5:42.73
