Zach Putt and Katie Wadden braved cool temperatures Sunday morning to win the 12th Cape to Cabot 20-kilometre run, a grueling road race that started at Cape Spear and ended atop Signal Hill.
Both Putt and Wadden won for the first time in the race that saw 500 runners start, and 427 finish.
Putt won in a time of 1:18.41, while Peter Bazeley, a former Cape to Cabot champ, was second in 1:21.22.
As for Wadden, she was the first female and 17th overall in 1:32.12. It capped quite a 2018 for Wadden, who was the stroke oar for m5 which set a new Royal St. John’s Regatta course record in August.
Melanie Van Soeren was the second female in 1:33.10.
Brian Caines was the third finisher in 1:22.53 followed by Mike Peddle (1:25.22) and Abrham Rodgers (1:26.23).
Ali Crawford placed third amongst females in 1:35.29. Krissy Dooling, a former Cape to Cabot champ, was fourth (1:36.26) and Elizabeth Moore placed fifth (1:37.53).
There were also three other noteworthy performances. Florence Barron, 80, ran the race and finished 273rd overall in 2:12.46, and 78-year-old Chris Jermyn was 264th overall in a time of 2:11.51.
As well, visually impaired Craig Spurrell of St. John’s, now living in Toronto, ran the race and was guided by his friend, John Spears. They both were 342nd in a time of 2:22.19.
It’s the first time a visually impaired runner took part in the race.
Starting at the Cape Spear Lighthouse, the race took runners out Blackhead Rd., through Shea Heights, and through downtown St. John's before finishing with a run up Signal Hill, the last mile of the race dubbed the Munn Mile.
The 20K course featured a 550 meter elevation gain and 450m elevation drop. Only three of the 20 kilometres were run on flat ground, and the course featured four major climbs.
