The 2021 RainForest Trail Run (RFTR) winners of the 5k and 10k runs through the urban trails of Central Park in Burnaby, BC received awards sponsored by TELUS and presented by Achilles International Track and Field Society (AITFS) members, Meet Director, Chris Hancock (centre) and Marketing Chair, Alvin Chow (left) one week ago at Swangard Stadium.

This event which aims to advance Indigenous culture and history was forced to cancel in 2020 because of the Covid Pandemic. The inaugural Rainforest Trail Run was held in 2019 with great support from the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the Indigenous Sport, Physical Acivity and Recreational Council (I-SPARC).

AITFS made the decision to proceed in planning in July 2021 for the RFTR in September, hoping for the public health authorities rules would be favourable. Under AITFS meet directors, Vincent Doyle and Chris Hancock the event did proceed as one of the first in person running events to occur in British Columbia. The shadow of Covid-19 not surprisingly created a natural hesitancy in the inaugural supporters from 2019. A great deal of credit is deserved by the effort of the Vancouver Sun and Province, TELUS and UBC's School of Kinesiology to keep the concept alive during these stressful times. Over 220 entries were received. AITFS willl plan the 2022 RFTR to be close to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation set for September 30 next year. All photos by AITFS member, Brian Cliff.

The 2021 winner of the RFTR 10k men was Drew Nicholson, age 32 years with a time time of 35:59

The 2021 winner of the RFTR 10k women was Kaitlin Somerville ,age 26 with a time of 50:59

The 2021 winner of the RFTR 5k run/walk men was Jacob McNeil, age 32 with a time of 20:20

The 2021 winner of the RFTR 5k run/walk women was Nanna Leegaard Kruse,age 34 with a time of 21:04

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WINNERS IN AGE DIVISIONS 2021 RAINFOREST TRAIL RUN

Division  Time    Name             Age

2021 RAINFOREST TRAIL RUN 10k RUN MEN        

U 18 yrs 44:44 Griffin Withers 16 yrs

20-29 yrs 41:39 Del Muench 27 yrs

30-39 yrs 35:59 Drew Nicholson 37 yrs

40-49 yrs 1:00:45 Damian Stanley 40 yrs

50-59 yrs 49:32 Mike Walkey 51 yrs

60-69 yrs 54:26 Rob Stewart 62 yrs

Division  Time    Name             Age

2021 RAINFOREST TRAIL RUN 10k RUN WOMEN  

U16 yrs 1:04:06 Rhone Shauer 13 yrs

20-29 yrs 50:51 Kaitlin Somerville 26 yrs

30-39 yrs 52:49 Jocelyn Stacey 38yrs

40-49 yrs 1:00:45 Aida Sarroca 47 yrs

50-59 yrs 53:21 Tammy Brumwell 51 yrs

60-69 yrs 52:50 Kathy Copeman-Stewart 64 yrs

Division  Time    Name             Age  

2021 RAINFOREST TRAIL RUN 5k RUN/WALK MEN

U 12 yrs 27:25 Nishant Farmer 11 yrs

U 16 yrs 20:45 Declan Warburton 15 yrs

20-29 yrs 37:49 Dylan Klein 24 yrs

30-39 yrs 20:20 Jacob McNeil 32 yrs

40-49 yrs 30:49 Ray Miller 43 yrs

50-59 yrs 50.18 Vincent Gale 53 yrs

60-69 yrs 29:19 John Wheeler 68 yrs

70-79 yrs 37:49 Ronald Mattison 71 yrs  

Division  Time    Name             Age

2021 RAINFOREST TRAIL RUN 5k RUN/WALK WOMEN

U 8 yrs 41:46 Sukhleen Farmer 6 yrs

U 18 yrs 35:35 Sofia Anatolie 17 yrs

U 20 yrs 29:28 Grace Payne 18 yrs

30-39 yrs 21:04 Nanna Leegaard Kruse 34 yrs

40-49 yrs 36:28 Juanne Stewart 43 yrs

50-59 yrs 33:57 Julie Iverson 51 yrs

60-69 yrs 30:55 Liz Macdonald 61 yrs

70-79 yrs 44:12 Patricia Jansen 73 yrs

80-89 yrs 1:10:40 Leslie Holmes 84 yrs

90-99 yrs 1:10:40 Julia Vischer 90 yrs‍

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