The province’s largest road race continues to get bigger and bigger.
A record 3,051 runners, walkers and wheelchair competitors will head to the start line Sunday for the 84th Telegram 10-Mile Road Race — the Tely 10 — which begins in Paradise.
Last year, the race drew 2,749 entries and 2,625 completed the 10 miles. That’s a far cry from the 985 competitors who signed up for the 2000 race.
Sunday’s race begins 8 o’clock sharp (7:55 a.m. for wheelchair athletes) on McNamara Road in Paradise. From there, runners turn right on to Topsail Road, proceeding east to Cornwall Avenue, LeMarchant Road, Harvey Road and Military Road, finishing on Bannerman Road.
Reigning champ Colin Fewer of Paradise returns, with a shot at joining Cliff Stone and George Hillier as winners of seven consecutive Tely 10 titles. Pat Kelly is the all-team leader with nine straight wins.
Fewer won last year’s race with a time of 49:48, the fourth fastest ever recorded behind Paul McCloy’s 47:04, 47:54 and 49:20.
Kate Vaughan of St. John’s made her mark in last year’s race, winning with a 56:36 showing, good for ninth place overall.
The time was the third-fastest ever recorded by a woman, behind Nicola Will’s 55:47 and 56:04.
Vaughan outraced Calgary’s Lisa Harvey, who clocked 59:02. Harvey, who is married to McCloy, was seeking her fifth straight win.
Runners eclipsing the standards set by McCloy and Will receive Publishers’ Legacy Medals, offered by The Telegram. In addition to the medals, runners who set a new record will each pocket $1,500.
Awards will be presented immediately following the race. The top three male and female winners will receive $750, $500 and $250, in addition to $350, $300 and $250 in Running Room money.
Read about Colin Fewer, "Running down history" online and see other related stories, plus a complete list of registered participants, in The Weekend edition of The Telegram.
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Max, have you watched the Tely 10? There were 3000 plus people out there today. It would be impossible to have one lane open to traffic along much, if not all of the route, and still maintain safety. The roads open up as the last person travels the route, so, it isn't all shut down all morning. People should be able to get back and forth to Church as there are alternate routes and the roads are opening up as the morning progresses. It is only one Sunday of the year, it is well advertised, people have time to plan an alternate route and people can go the evening service if need be.