Art gazes into crystal ball for 2018 Tely 10 picks
After setting record last year, Fewer will add to his list of Tely titles
Colin Fewer has a record 10 Tely 10 victories to his credit. I anticipate he will make it 11 on Sunday.
His winning time of 49:41 last year at age 40 established him as the best masters runner in Canada. In fact, it is a world-class time for a runner his age.
In April, Fewer captured the over-40 title at the Vancouver Sun Run and did the same at the Ottawa 10K race in May. He has had a few minor running aches and pains lately, but they are under control.
When I spoke with him recently, he was confident he was on track for another successful Tely.
The runner who may challenge Fewer’s domination of the Tely is Ryan Brockerville.
Marystown born and a nephew of legendary Newfoundland marathoner Gordon Brockerville, he is a nationalcalibre steeplechaser who lives in British Columbia.
Two weeks ago, he lay the gauntlet down with a decisive victory at the Mews 8K Race. His winning time of 24:22 indicates a potential 50-minute Tely. That is fast enough to give Colin Fewer a stiff challenge and make it an exciting race.
Art’s Top 10
■ Colin Fewer
■ Ryan Brockerville
■ Chris Galley
■ Nick Snow
■ Graydon Snider
■ Dan Macdonald
■ Adam Snow
■ Tyler Cole
■ Peter Power
■ Jonathan Goodridge
A trio of Memorial University crosscountry runners will be in the chase this Sunday. Chris Galley, Nick Snow and Tyler Cole put in miles of hard training this past winter, and it has paid off.
Galley has two road race victories to his credit this year, and Snow and Cole one each. I am going with Galley for third and Snow for fourth.
Montreal-based Graydon Snider is back for his annual Tely appearance. He has usually been a top-five guy at the Tely. His 32:30 at the Ottawa 10K race in May is an indication he can run a 10-mile time that will place him fifth this year.
Ontarian Dan Macdonald is my pick for sixth. He has been living here for several years, but keeps a low profile in the local running community. He likes to train solo and race sparingly, but he always comes ready to race hard. He will do that again on Sunday.
Watch for five-kilometre specialist Adam Snow to challenge for a top-five spot this year. He has run well this season with some high placings. Snow has a smooth running style that is an advantage on the Tely course.
I will choose him for seventh behind Macdonald, but the latter will have to use all his endurance and strength to beat Snow to the finish line.
Tyler Cole is captain of the Memorial cross-country team. He is a Canadian Forces officer studying medicine. A training partner of Chris Galley and Nick Snow, he had a confidence building big win at the recent hilly Carved by the Sea 10K race in Bay Roberts.
Cole should be good for eighth. Peter Power continues to mock the gods of aging. At 55, he also is world-class for his age. In late June, he won the Run for Freedom at St. Mary’s in a rain storm. He was sixth in a deep field at the Mews race, besting runners half his age.
I see him running under 55 minutes this weekend, and demolishing my age group record for the 55-59 category I set in 1999. Records are made to be broken, and Power is the man to do it. He will finish ninth, but do not rule out his picking off some of the runners I have predicted to finish ahead of him.
Jonathan Goodridge was a major surprise at last year’s race. The young cross-country runner attends Guelph University and trains with their very successful team. He will have a shot at 55 minutes or better on Sunday, and will round out the top 10.
This year, there will be a platoon of fast runners who have the intention of displacing the favourites. They are led by Ian Royle, Peter Bazeley, Jason Guy, Adam Chambers, Charlie Kourvelas, Mike Scott, Kyle Macleod, Jamie West, Sheldon Marsh, Zach Putt, Andrew Bruce, Jason White, Dan Conway and Alex Smallwood.