Women’s half-marathon a family affair in Niagara Falls
It wasn’t fatigue or exhaustion that caused Bernadette Miszk to break down as she approached the finish line at the Niagara
Falls Women’s Half Marathon, Sunday.
Nineteen-year-old daughter Julianne stood at the finish line, waiting to place a medal around her mother’s neck.
“As soon as I saw her I burst into tears,” said Bernadette, who completed the 21-kilometre marathon just more than two hours.
The medal featured an image of Julianne, a student at Saint Michael Catholic High School and Niagara Falls Wall of Fame inductee.
The teen, who trains out of Niagara Regional Athletics, won track and field medals at the high school level, all while undergoing procedures and treatments for bone cancer in her jaw.
Also on hand at the finish line was Julianne’s father Joe, who presented his wife with a massive glass of champagne to celebrate her victory.
“I had told my husband that when I finished I wanted champagne and he said, ‘Yeah, right.’ I didn’t think he was really going to do it. This was the best race ever.”
More than 1,600 women participated in the half-marathon which wound its way along the Niagara River Parkway and passed by the falls twice before finishing at the Upper Rapids Boulevard parking lot.
About 280 women completed the new 5k run, including Julianne and her twin sister, Emily.
The annual event attracted
runners from nine provinces, 26 states and four countries including El Salvador.
Dale Findlay, of Toronto, had the fastest time of 1:26:47.
This was the 30-year-old’s second time participating in the Niagara Falls event.
“I think I beat my last time,” she said.
Not far behind Findlay were Carise Thompson, 26, from Dundas and Ellen Diemert, 23, from Owen Sound.
“It was a challenging run,” said Thompson, who ran to raise funds and awareness for Reach One Touch One Ministries which supports seniors in Uganda who care for orphans.
It was also Diemert’s first attempt at the Niagara Falls Womens Half Marathon.
“It was harder than I expected but it was lots of fun with all the people cheering us on.”
Running legend Kathrine Switzer, who has assisted with the event for years, returned to congratulate each runner as they crossed the finish line.
Fifty-one years ago she became the first woman to officially enter the Boston Marathon. At the time it was considered a men’s-only race.
The Niagara Falls marathon supported two charities, Heartland Forest and the Canadian Diabetes Association.
“Diabetes is an epidemic now and with Heartland Forest, you go there once and you’re a fan, so I’m proud to able to support both charities,” said race director Ross Robinson.