It was rainy, windy and cold, but that didn't stop Andrea Wilson from lacing up for the Westcoast Sooke 10k on March 9.

Wilson was among a large contingent of Comox Valley athletes who make the trip down-Island to Sooke that weekend. The course, an unforgiving out-and-back with a sharply-steep climb right out of the gate, did not prove too difficult for Wilson, who set a new personal best time of 39:20. That speedy time had her just missing out on first place in the Masters Women Division for ages 40 and up by only two seconds. To top it off, she finished first place in the W50-54 age group, setting a new age group record.

A race report provided by Comox Valley Road Runners said that Wilson's performance "continues to show she belongs at the top level."

Nic Samsom also had a great run. He led all of the local runners in the race, while lowering his personal best time to 36:44 and placing fifth in the M25-29 age group. He outlasted wily veteran Dan Wilson who also set a personal best of 38:03 while placing third M50-54. Wilson and his wife Nikki, who ran a solid time of 48:37, sixth place in W50-54, were running this race in preparation for the upcoming Boston Marathon.

It wasn't just long-time club members placing well. New CVRR member Josh Irving showed that he is the real deal with a great time of 38:17 and fourth place M2024. He was followed by Leon Heath who also smashed his own personal best with a time of 39:16 coming third place in M3034. Another local racer with a great finish was Kim Coscia who broke the magical forty minute barrier by running 39:57 and third place W2529. Other podium finishers were Rob Kelly, 41:49, first M6064; Derek Brenchley, 42:18, first M6569; Keith Wakelin, 43:31, third M6064; Wayne Crowe, 44:57, first M7074; Coco Elgood, 46:52, third W5559; Ken Manning, 47:59, third M7074; and of course Roslyn Smith, who is showing no signs of slowing down with a time of 50:55, first W7579. 

Many other runners contributed to a successful fifth place club finish by CVRR in the team competition including Maureen McDonald, 58:32, Laura Wyatt, 1:03:07, Brenda Norn, 1:04:07 and Leah Vecchione, 1:21:47

Overall, the winner was Brandon Vail from Victoria, who crushed the field running a blistering time of 31:01. The top overall woman was Meg Lewis-Schneider, also from Victoria, with a very fast 35:30.