2023 Navy Run Champions Crowned

Peter Mallett
Staff Writer

A fleet-footed chef from Sidney found the recipe for success in this year’s Navy Run, crossing the finish line with an unbeatable time in the 5k race.

Peterson Perrin claimed the Navy Run 5k title on June 17, finishing the course in 17:17. He was 14 seconds faster than second-place finisher Graedon Church, a DND civilian, of Victoria.

“I just kept my pace and held on,” Perrin said. “The winds were so strong I felt like I was parachuting, but I gunned it from the get-go and only looked over my shoulder a few times.”

Perrin works as a Performance Coach at the Pacific Institute for Sport Education (PISE) and a chef with the Deep Cove Chalet. He has won two previous Navy Run 5k races but said this year’s blustery conditions affected his performance.

The top female in the 5k race was Corporal (Cpl) Sophia Nowicki of 15 Field Ambulance, Calgary detachment, who finished fourth overall with a time of 18:12. Cpl Nowicki is a part-time Reservist who also works as a nurse and has been a competitive runner for the past ten years. “I was glad to be able to take part in the race and had a blast competing,” she said. “I was glad to have won my category.”

Lieutenant (Lt) Anabelle St-Martin of Base Logistics (BLOG) was the top female military runner in the 5k race with a time of 19:08 and a 12^th overall finish.

Master Sailor Bailey Toupin of Naval Reserve unit HMCS Malahat finished just one second behind Lt St-Martin.

Walker too fast

In the 10k competition, Nick Walker, Running Room Victoria Co-owner, jumped out to an early lead and then held on for the victory with a time of 33:48. Walker crossed the finish line 19 seconds quicker than his nearest challenger, Jonathan MacDonald of Comox.

“I always love competing in this event because it’s an amazing course to run and the team here always does an amazing job of staging this event,” said Walker after accepting his winner’s medal from Capt (N) J. Jeffrey Hutchinson, Base Commander. It was Walker’s third win at the Navy Run.

Lieutenant (Navy) (Lt(N)) Adrian Thow of Canadian Fleet Pacific (CANFLTPAC) was the top military runner in the 10k, finishing third overall with a time of 36:43. Randi Logan of Crofton, B.C., was the quickest female in the 10k race with a time of 43:46. Lt(N) Pamela Hogan, a Public Affairs Officer of Maritime Forces Pacific, finished second in the women’s category with a time of 46:49.

Ten visiting Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force members participated in this year’s race. Two of their members placed fifth and sixth overall in the 5k race, posting times of 18:21 and 18:29, respectively, while one Japanese runner placed 4th overall in the 10K with a time of 36:44.

This year’s Navy Run had 660 participants in the in-person and virtual race options.

Children from all around CFB Esquimalt join the exciting fun run at the Annual Navy Run event on June 17, 2023. Photo Credit: Sailor 1st Class KP, MARPAC Imaging Services, Esquimalt, BC

Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Stan Budden, Navy Run Ambassador, said he was impressed with the turnout and participation from the wider running community. 

“The participation from runners outside the base and military circles was strong and seeing so many people from the community was great,” said CPO1 Budden, who works as a Unit Chief at Naval Fleet School (Pacific). “I am looking forward to next year’s run being even bigger and better.”

The Canadian Submarine Force led the way in top participation for a unit with 30 runners registered. BLOG was second with 21 participants, and Naval Personnel Training Unit (NPTG) was third with 13 members lacing up their runners to participate.

Through monies collected through donations, this year’s Navy Run raised $ 5004.49 for beneficiary Soldier On. HMCS Calgary led the way in overall team fundraising, raising over $840.

The title sponsors for this year’s Navy Run were BMO, Seaspan, Babcock and Bell Media.

For full race results, visit startlinetiming.com/en/races/2023/navyrun/event/10K/page.

Top Finishers

The top finishers for in-person participants at the CFB Esquimalt Navy Run,
June 17. With finish, name, hometown and chip time, military members
in bold:

10K

Men

1 – Nick Walker, Victoria, 33:48;
2 – Jonathan MacDonald, Comox, B.C., 36:07;
3 – Adrian Thow, Victoria, 36:43.

Women

1 – Randi Logan, Crofton B.C., 43:46;
2 – Pamela Hogan, Victoria, 46:49;
3 – Angela Puszka, Sooke, B.C., 47:19.

5K

Men

1 – Perrin Peterson, Sidney, B.C., 17:17;
2 – Graedon Church, Victoria, 17:31;
3 – Travis Fehr, Victoria, 17:40.

Women

1 – Sophia Nowicki, Bragg Creek, Alta., 18:12;
2 – Anabelle St-Martin, Victoria, 19:08;
3 – Bailey Toupin, Victoria B.C., 19:09.

Source: https://startlinetiming.com