After a two-year virtual hiatus, the MHC Rattler Run returned as a live event on Saturday, hosting 500 plus runner and walkers on the trails and roads around Medicine Hat College and Kin Coulee Park.  The ideal spring weather allowed many athletes to post excellent performances in the 10 km, 5 km, or 3 km distances.

Calgarian Callum Drever took the top spot in the 10 km race, posting a time of 34:37 over the challenging, hilly course.  It’s was Drever’s second road race victory this week; last Sunday he won the St. Albert 10 miler in scorching time of 52:30. Medicine Hat newcomer Andrew Lehman, a runner at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, was a close second, stopping the clock at 34:54.  MHC Rattlers Running assistant coach Chris Jonker placed third.

The women’s 10 km was a closely-contested affair, with a mere 10 seconds separating the first three runners.  Second-year MHC nursing student Becky Ross, overtook 2019 Rattler Run winner Charlene McGrath in the final km and clocked at time of 43:38 for the win.  Saturday’s run was Ross’ first-ever long-distance running race; she only started running 18 months ago.  Madison Scrimger, a Grade 12 student at Crescent Heights High who will be running for the MHC Rattlers Cross Country team this fall, placed third.

There was a distinct local connection among the 5 km winners as all six were Medicine Hat and area residents.  Landon Swartz, who runs for SAIT Polytechnic, triumphed in the men’s 5 km with a time of 18:07, 42 second ahead of Quinn Haldorson. MHC Rattlers runner Brandon Sumner placed third.

In the women’s 5 km, Medicine Hat Panthers/Hat High’s Hannah Kozakewich took the top prize in 21:24.  SAIT Polytechnic’s Jasmin Salmon placed second, while the Medicine Hat Bulldog’s Devyn Perrett was third.

The men’s 3 km fun run was won by another Medicine Hat Bulldog, Laine Gauthier.  Gauthier ran the course in 10:40, almost 2 minutes clear of second place.  Azelynne Ferguson was the top women in the 3 km.

Full results for the 2022 Rattler Run can be found at Race Pro Timing website – https://racepro.ca/races/rattlerrun/