UltraMarathoner Recognized
Military's top athlete
by Bill Walker

Meaford, ON - Victor Hickey isn't quite sure what made him happier - being named the Canadian Armed Forces male athlete of the year or the recognition the award was going to mean to ultramarathoning.

"I like the fact that it really helps promote the sport because it's new in Canada," Hickey said Monday, fresh from being honoured at an awards ceremony Saturday in Ottawa.

"But to be honoured by the forces in this way is incredible.   It's really quite an honour."

Hickey knew that he'd been chosen as the land branch's male athlete of the year.  But the Land Force Central Area training centre warrant officer had no idea he was going to get the nod over athletes from the air, sea and headquarter divisions.

"I was really surprised and I certainly wasn't expecting it," said the 42 year old Meaford native, who is married with two sons.

"I thought there were other people there more deserving than me."

The qualification period for this award runs from April 1998 to the end of March 1999.  During that time, Hickey had a stellar ultramarathon season.

He finished second at the Canadian 100km championships in May 1998, earning a spot on Team Canada at the Worlds in Japan.  Despite battling bronchitis and the flu, Hickey still managed to finish the race in about nine hours.

He also finished first overall in the Ontario Ultra Series, competing in nine of its 11 events.  He finished first seven times while coming in second once and fourth another time.

"That was a great year for me," said Hickey, who is only in his second year of ultramarathon competition and his fourth season of competitive running.

And if the voters thought Hickey's 1998-1999 season was good, wait until they get a load of what he's done so far this year.

He finished 24th overall at the 100km World Championships in France in May.  His 6:57:48 finishing time was the fastest among all North American competitors and it was his career best.  He's only the fifth Canadian in history to break the seven hour mark.

He also won the Canadian championship in September and finished third in the 100km Chancellor Challenge in Boston last month.  He didn't repeat as the overall Ultra Series champion since he didn't compete in the number of events required to win.

But he did win all six he entered this summer.

"I thought last year was great but this year surpassed all my expectations," said Hickey, who points at local ultramarathon pioneer Doug Barber as inspiring him to get involved in the sport.

"My passion right now is running.  I don't really care if I win or not.  I just like being around people in running because there really are some amazing people involved in the sport."

Ultramarathons are anything longer than the standard marathon length of 42.2 km.