134 runners leave the start line in the 5km event at the 31st YMCA Road Race Sunday. Photos 250News

Prince George, B.C. – The 31st annual YMCA Road Race, one of the oldest events of its kind in Prince George, is in the books and a well-known local competitor set the pace for the more than 200 runners.

A total of 205 competitors registered for this year’s event, 71 in the 10k race and 134 in the 5 k.  The oldest competitor was a spry 89 years of age.  The event is held each year on the first weekend of June and normally has its start/finish at Masich Place Stadium.  However, the site was moved over to the Y parking lot for this year  as renovations to the stadium are fully underway and the track is closed.

The 10k race in the Canadian Tire-sponsored event had a 9 am start while the 5k left the line 15 minutes later.

The first runner to cross the line was veteran Jacqui Pettersen,(above) who completed the 5k race with a time of 20:02.  She was closely followed by Sharleen Balogh, clocked at 20:20 and Todd Wiebe at 20:26.

Blake Masson was first in the 10k race with a time of 38:66, followed by John Hagen at 39:30 and Garnet Fraser, in with a time of 40:19.

A large number of sponsors stepped up to provide food, water and other refreshments to the participants.

The YMCA Road Race is followed by the Kids Colour Fun Run, with 213 youngsters registered this year.  The stage for that event this year was the ball fields at Carrie Jane Gray Park.