B6

Times & Transcript Staff

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

GRANDE-DIGUE - The fourth annual Grande-Digue 15 kilometre run -- actually a two-day event for runners of all ages -- will be held April 25-26.

The main race of the event is the 15 kilometre run, which will be held Sunday, April 26, but there are a number of other races planned for participants.

Last year's events attracted nearly 600 competitors from the Maritimes, Quebec and Maine. A total of $5,600 in prize money will be handed out over the weekend.

Besides the main event, a three kilometre run/walk, a 15 kilometre walk, a three kilometre school challenge for middle school and high school students and children's races will also be featured.

In all, there are 20 different men's, women's and children's age-class divisions with each division winner taking home a race jacket.

The schedule on Sunday, April 26 will see a 15 kilometre walk begin at 10 a.m., followed by the 15 kilometre run at 11 a.m. and a three kilometre run/walk at 11:10 a.m. Races begin at Grande-Digue School.

The 15 kilometre run, which is part of both the Run N.B. SuperSeries and Timex series, will be held on a picturesque course along the Northumberland Strait, with the final kilometre and a half on a slight downhill.

Joël Bourgeois of Grande-Digue (50:15) and Genevieve Lalonde of Moncton (58:27) were the men's and women's winners of the race last year and both broke course records. The men's and women's winners will each receive $525, plus an additional $100 for a new course record. Participants in Sunday's runs will receive a T-shirt (guaranteed if registered by tomorrow night), water and Gatorade stops, event photos and a post-race reception with spaghetti/chili. Showers, post-race massage and draw prizes will also be available. The top 10 overall men's and women's finishers in the 15 kilometre run will receive cash prizes. Atlantic chip time will be used.

The event kicks off Saturday, April 25, a day set aside for children and students that begins at 9 a.m. Registration will be held from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at Grande-Digue School. Runs will include 1,500 metres for 10-11-year-olds, 500 metres for children five and under, 800 metres for children 6-7 and one kilometre for children 8-9.

The middle school and high school student challenges will follow at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively. The top five runners from each school will receive points for their team. Over 30 schools participated in last year's challenges.

Defending champions are Marée Montante School of Saint-Louis-de-Kent (middle school) and Fredericton High School (high school). Both will be back to defend their title.

Each participant will receive a medal and a total of $2,200 in prize money will be available for schools and individual runners. The top school in each of the two divisions that has at least five girls participating will receive $100.

Registration is available by visiting the Running Room at 300 Main St., Moncton or at www.runningroom.com

Proceeds from the event will go to the Relay for Life, to be held in Shediac in June.