Ascension 98 Results

ASCENSION 50 Km Run
Hamilton, Ontario
Saturday, April 4, 1998
(Ed Alexander)

      Perhaps more aptly named the Ascension-Descension 50 Km Trail Run, runners were treated to a much improved format for this three year old run which doubles as a fund- raiser for the Church of the Ascension Breakfast Club. Due to the unpredictability of weather conditions in February, the event was previously a six hour run on the cement sidewalks circumnavigating the 148 year old Anglican Church and urban treasure.
     Accepted this year as the first race in the revamped 10th annual Ontario Ultra Series, the event was able to move the date to early April and more favourable weather which permitted the use of a recently converted rail line which slowly ascends the face of the Niagara Escarpment where it divides the City of Hamilton into upper and lower portions.
     As the starting point at the church is in the lower slope of the Escarpment, the trail actually only rises about 150 or so feet over the 3.65 miles the runners had to mount four times before returning the one mile to the starting point.
     Except for the spur mile, the entire course is asphalt paved, making it more like a road race than a trail race, which was reflected in the finishing times, with the first 7 of 34 finishers running under 4 hours.
     Victor Hickey, who has declared his intentions to take on the Ontario Ultra Series with a vengence got things off on the right foot for himself with a 3:24 clocking, with last year's Series top point man Ron Gehl claimed the master's trophy in 3:42.
     Among the women, Ruta Mazelis of Ohio ran a solid 4:56 to claim the open title, while Helen Malmberg took the master's in 5:34.
     The Ascension Breakfast Club is a volunteer run programme which provides breakfast to about 40 local children each morning on their way to school.

1. Hickey, Victor      41     3:24:47
2. Remington, John     33     3:33:32
3. Culhane, John       35     3:35:31
4. Turner, Scott       37     3:35:33
5. Gehl, Ronald        51     3:42:32 1st M 50+
6. Martin, Tony        34     3:45:15
7. Melcher, Ryne       19     3:46:13
8. Barber, Doug        51     4:04:07 2nd M 50+
9. Sarson, George      51     4:06:43 3rd M 50+
10. Wallis, Paul        25     4:07:12
11. Caouette, John      36     4:20:32
12. England, Gord       45     4:25:53
13. Urbanski, Richard   51     4:33:14
14. Upshall, Charles    53     4:37:25
15. Restoule, Tom       48     4:46:07
16. Hilton, Bruce       60     4:50:12
17. Bohuslawsky, Greg   46     4:55:55
18. Mazelis, Ruta       39 OH 4:56:24 1st F
19. Philippe, Frank     31     4:57:15
20. Campbell, Grant     39     5:11:55
21. Robertson, Susan    48     5:15:53 2nd F
22. Moore, Arthur       61 OH 5:17:26
23. Mah, Esmond         48     5:20:11
24. Moses, Jim          62     5:22:09
25. Scholz, Monica      31     5:22:32 3rd F
26. Runge, Aimee        32     5:26:00
27. Parker, Howard      48     5:33:32
28. Malmberg, Helen     52     5:34:25 1st F 50+
29. Soligo, Odino       77     5:35:38
30. Cookson, John       52     5:36:37
31. Potter, Marge       60     5:37:37 2nd F 50+
32. Pleet, Diane        51     6:34:01
33. Alexander, Edwin    53     6:54:24
34. Heroux, Jess        52     7:08:01
39 Starters

Race Photos