South Surrey runner Luc Bruchet has helped Canada to a best-ever time at a prestigious relay marathon in Japan.
Bruchet, an Elgin Park Secondary grad and UBC alum, and his Canadian running mates finished seventh at the International Chiba Ekiden, one spot shy of Canada’s sixth-place finish in 2012. However, despite not cracking the top six, the team’s time of two hours, nine minutes and 28 seconds was the fastest ever Canadian finish.
Bruchet ran the first stage of the six-stage race, finishing his five-km portion in 13:35.
Now back in the Lower Mainland, Bruchet will get set to defend his Canadian cross-country title this Saturday at Jericho Park in Vancouver.
Last year, Bruchet slogged through muddy conditions at Jericho to win the 10-km senior men’s race in 31 minutes, 38.39 seconds.
Another Peninsula cross-country runner, Semiahmoo grad Jack Williams, also had a strong week, helping UBC’s men’s team to a sixth-place team finish at NAIA championships last weekend.
Williams, a senior, placed fourth overall, completing the eight-km race – his last ever for UBC – in 24:53.