Three race records smashed at 41st annual GotoInsure.ca Fredericton Marathon
May 15th, 2019

FREDERICTON (RUNNB) Three race records were smashed at the 41st annual GotoInsure.ca Fredericton Marathon Sunday.

James MacLellan, of Sydney, Nova Scotia, crushed the men’s marathon record by more than four minutes, finishing it in 2:29:42. Lee Wesselius, of River Glade, New Brunswick beat his own 2018 Fredericton Marathon half marathon race record, besting his time by more than three minutes, crossing the line at 1:08:07.

Sunday’s 10k, 21.1k and 42.2k participants raced on a new course, crossing the Westmorland Street Bridge to access Fredericton’s trail system. This special course was to be used for last year’s 40th anniversary but couldn’t use it due to last year’s flood events.

“We are so happy that runners got to cross the Westmorland Street Bridge this year,” said Bruce Macfarlane, co-race director. “Our committee will work with City of Fredericton officials about possibly bringing the bridge back in the future.”

In the women’s marathon, Heather O’Donnell, of Meadowvale, Nova Scotia successfully defended her title, winning it for the third straight year, with a time of 3:01.38. Emily Hamilton, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, placed second seven seconds later followed by Maura Wieczorek, Halifax, Nova Scotia, who crossed the line at 3:09:07.

MacLellan placed first in the men’s marathon followed by Trevor Funk, of Saint John, New Brunswick and Ian Holdway, of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The 41st annual GotoInsure.ca Fredericton Marathon hosted RunNB’s provincial marathon and half marathon championships. Trevor Funk, of Saint John (2nd overall), Jean-Marc Boudreau, of Memramcook (4th overall) and Josh Shanks, of Chance Harbour, (5th overall) earned Run New Brunswick men’s marathon first, second and third spots respectively.

In the women’s provincial marathon championships, Laura Richard, of Fredericton (5th female overall), Isabelle Theriault, of Edmundston (10th female overall), and Annie Pellerin, of Dieppe (13th overall), placed first, second and third respectively.

Wesselius claimed the RunNB men’s half marathon championship title. Alex L’Heureux, of Hanwell (3rd overall), and Justin Young, of Fredericton (4th overall), placed second and third respectively. Fredericton’s Sarah Beairsto (2nd female overall) won the RunNB women’s half marathon championship title followed by Cathy Comeau, of Moncton (4th female overall) and Marcie Holland, of Saint John (6th female overall)

A total of 2,047 registered for Sunday’s event plus 640 children participated in Saturday’s Youth Fun Run, creating a new record in the Youth Fun Run.

RunNB’s remaining provincial championship races are: 10km Chaleur Banque Nationale CKLE (10km) on June 8; Miramichi Rock n Run (5km) on June 23, and Hampton Five Miler (5 miles) September 8.

MEDIA CONTACT: Bruce Macfarlane, Co-race director, Fredericton Marathon, 506-476-1376, NBMarathonman@gmail.com.