Justin Kent and Makenna Fitzgerald win 2026 Vancouver Sun Run in personal best times

Justin Kent of nearby Surrey and Cochrane, Alberta’s Makenna Fitzgerald won the 2026 and 42nd edition of the Vancouver Sun Run on Sunday.

Seeing the news about the Under Armour Toronto 10K from earlier in the day, three time zones to the east, the buzz around the start area was for Vancouver to beat Toronto. In Toronto, men’s winner Max Turek ran 29:13, and Regan Yee won the women’s race in 33:01.

Unlike the Canucks against the Maple Leafs this season, where Vancouver was 0-2, Vancouver runners showed up and won, decisively.

Men’s race

Justin Kent, the 2019 winner, took off fast. While there was some serious competition at the race, no one else was quite sure if Kent was going to hang onto the speedy effort. So, the likes of Olympic steeplechaser John Gay, the winner in 2023, from Kelowna, Richard Allen from Huddersfield, UK, and Canadian Andrew Davies hung out with Kent until 5km in, where he made his move, dropping the field and gaining approximately 50m on everyone else. Gay was in tow in second. The field was beginning to string out.

Justin Kent with the win in 28:40. Photo credit: Margaret Buttner.

The leaders passed through 5km in approximately 14:10. Knowing the second half of the race is a little slower than the first half, it is not a bad strategy.

To borrow from a phrase, Gay said, “He called our bluff, and it worked.”

Gay was gaining on Kent in the latter stages of the race, but it was too little too late as Kent crossed the finish line with hands up, celebrating in 28:40. Gay finished in 28:44, and a surprise third-place finisher was Davies, who is coming back from injury. He clocked in at a new PB of 29:02.

Gay said that he was “ecstatic” with his run, which is his second straight strong performance, having run well at the St. Patrick’s Day 5K in nearby Stanley Park. Gay is moving to Flagstaff, AZ, to train with fellow Canadian marathon runner Rory Linkletter. He will be racing in Ottawa in his debut over the distance in May.

Kent is going to Gifu, Japan, next weekend to race the half-marathon.

“I haven’t quite got out of the half-marathon distance that I have at other distances,” shared Kent, who ran an 11-second Sun Run PB on Sunday. His personal best over 10km on the road is from Toronto, where he clocked a 29:03 in 2021. The 33-year-old has run the marathon in the time of 2:09:25 in New York in March 2025. Kent’s best half-marathon is officially 1:02:48 from San Jose in 2022.

Fourteen men ran under 30 minutes, 28 under 31 and 51 recorded finish times faster than 32 minutes.

Reuben Pienaar from North Vancouver clocked in at 32:20 as the first U19 junior. Former Kenyan and current Vancouver-area runner David Mutai won the masters over 40 division, clocking in at 30:08.

University of Victoria Vike Jaxon Kuchar had a surprise result, clocking a near-minute PB. His best was 30:13 from the 2025 TC10K. The 22-year-old ran 29:19 and finished in seventh position.

Women’s race

Makenna Fitzgerald ran a big new personal best, clocking 32:24. Taking second was Kelowna’s Malindi Elmore in 32:38, and third was Kenyan Joyline Chemutai, who finished in 32:44.

North Vancouver’s Natasha Wodak is credited as first master (over 40). She finished fourth. Because athletes cannot double down on awards, Elmore, also a master, having taken second overall, was not given the masters win.

Wodak asked for the microphone during the awards ceremony and said to the crowd watching, “I am not the masters winner, Malindi Elmore is,” and pointed to Elmore, who is a busy mother of two and coach of the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat.

Both athletes earned prize money on the day. Elmore, like Kent, is off to the Gifu Half Marathon. She will also be racing the Ottawa Marathon in May.

Makenna Fitzgerald won … after breaking the tape. Photo credit: Margaret Buttner.

“I think my personal best is 34:10 (34:13) from the TC10K from last year,” said Fitzgerald, unsure. She was a surprise winner then and again on Sunday in downtown Vancouver.

Fitzgerald will be racing Grandma’s Marathon in five weeks in Duluth. She is looking to run under 2:30:00. Asked if her Sun Run performance changes her goals for the marathon, she wasn’t sure yet. The 26-year-old ran 2:37:56 in Ottawa last year and 2:36:54 in Sacramento five months before that. Sacramento is not a sanctioned race for records and standards as it offers a larger than 1m per km downhill, point-to-point course. Grandma’s and the Boston Marathon are both unsanctioned as well.

Asked about her expectations for the Sun Run, Elmore said, “I didn’t really have expectations other than to run a good race. I managed to pick off two competitors near the end, so that is always good.”

Then, as she did over the second half of the race, bolted for the airport to fly back to Kelowna—no doubt one of her kids has a sport to play.

Abbotsford, BC’s Adrianna Buitelaar was the first junior U19 to clock in a new personal best of 34:18.

Shoestrings…

57,518 happy runners enjoyed a beautiful spring day with start temperatures of 12C, and the day’s high went over 20C

The prize purse of $25,000 is allocated as follows:

Top three Overall Male and Female: $3,000, $1,500 and $750.

Top five Canadian Male and Female: $2,500, $1,500, $1,000, $500, and $250.

Top three Male and Female Overall Masters: $750, $500 and $250.

“We were so thrilled to see everyone back for the 42nd edition of the Vancouver Sun Run,” said Tim Hopkins, Race Director. “Seeing all those happy faces at the start made me proud to be a part of such a historic Vancouver event.”

In a remarkable journey spanning over four decades, the Vancouver Sun Run has solidified its status as a staple event in British Columbia’s history. This annual road race stands as a testament to the power of community, health, and resilience. What began in 1985 as a vision to promote fitness and well-being among Vancouverites has grown into one of North America’s biggest road races, drawing participants from all walks of life.

“I wrote my first story for the Vancouver Sun in 1986, a year after Doug and Diane Clement, along with Dr. Jack Taunton, pitched the idea to the city. We had 3,200 runners for the very first race,” said Harold Munro, Vancouver Sun Editor-in-Chief. “The Vancouver Sun has been a proud partner for 41 years now. It’s so inspiring to see how far we’ve come.”

Special thanks to Sentinel Storage for supporting the Vancouver Sun Run Charity program. As the largest running event in the country, the Vancouver Sun Run draws tens of thousands of participants of all ages each year, and its charitable efforts have raised millions of dollars since its inception. Thanks to this year’s participants, several local organizations including the BC Cancer Foundation, Raise-a-Reader, and the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, were all beneficiaries of the 2026 event. Total amount raised was $138,148

Overall 2026 Winners

MenCity/CountryTime1. Justin Kent Burnaby, BC28:402. John GayKelowna, BC28:443. Andrew DaviesVancouver, BC29:02WomenCity/CountryTime1. Makenna FitzgeraldCochrane, AB32:252. Malindi ElmoreKelowna, BC32:393. Joyline ChemutaiWailuku, HI32:44

Top Canadians

Full results can be found by visiting www.vancouversunrun.com

Top-200 resultsPlaceNameGenderCityTimePace1Justin KENTMBurnaby28:402:522John GAYMKelowna28:442:533Andrew DAVIESMVancouver29:022:554Richard ALLENMHuddersfield29:102:555Thomas BROATCHMVancouver29:142:566Simon BERUBEMWinnipeg29:172:567Jaxon KUCHARMSaanich29:192:568Matt TALBOTMAilsa Craig29:272:579William LAIRDMSeattle29:322:5810Will CEBULIAKMRed Deer29:352:5811Santiago GAITAN CABALLEMWelland29:372:5812Harry HALFORDMCalgary29:402:5813Alex DROVERMKingston29:492:5914Mike WOODMWinnipeg29:543:0015Matthew VAN SCHEPDAELMWinnipeg30:013:0116Louis MARUKMPort Moody30:013:0117Daniel HESCHUKMNeepawa30:023:0118Liam DWYERMVancouver30:033:0119David MUTAIMLangley30:083:0120Christian GRAVELMVancouver30:113:0221Aidan ANDERSONMNorth Vancouver30:243:0322Chris TAYLORMVancouver30:323:0423Daniel ZEWDUMVictoria30:363:0424Mitch DE LANGEMVancouver30:403:0425Kennan SCHRAGMIssaquah30:403:0426Maksym POKOTYLETSMCalgary30:443:0527Moktar SAIDMCalgary30:503:0528Owen LLOYDMCambridge30:533:0629Noah ARYCHUKMRed Deer30:593:0630John PERRIERMVancouver30:593:0631Ryan TYRRELLMVancouver31:033:0732Christopher CHANMBurnaby31:063:0733Brendan WONGMCoquitlam31:173:0834Jonah BROSTMNorth Saanich31:173:0835Logan ARTHURMKingston31:203:0836Yahye JAMAMEdmonton31:223:0937Ryerson STOCKTON -THOMAMVancouver31:233:0938James LAMERSMVancouver31:263:0939Riley STUERMERMSt. Albert31:283:0940William PIDDUCKMVancouver31:283:0941Karl ROBERTSONMVictoria31:303:0942Craig MCMILLANMNorth Vancouver31:303:0943Ben WORKMANMEdmonton31:323:1044Sebastian CINOMVancouver31:353:1045Aaron BRATTMSeattle31:443:1146Ben PARTRIDGEMVancouver31:443:1147Joshua KOZELJMBurnaby31:483:1148Sam WENSINKMLangley31:493:1149Mark BROWNEMVancouver31:563:1250Kristopher SWANSONMChilliwack31:563:1251Reid MULLERMLangley31:563:1252David MORRISSEYMVancouver31:573:1253Ephrem MEKONNENMBurnaby32:073:1354Nicholas PEDERSENMOttawa32:103:1355Mathieu GAUTHIERMVancouver32:113:1456Nathan DEHGHANMVancouver32:143:1457Rian WILSONMSt. Catharines32:203:1458Reuben PIENAARMNorth Vancouver32:203:1459Makenna FITZGERALDFCochrane32:243:1560Frank WOOLSTENCROFTMCalgary32:263:1561Ronald LOEWENMFort Langley32:263:1562Jared BELLMVancouver32:303:1563Luke LAMBERTMNorth Vancouver32:343:1664Jaden HEIDARIAN-SATOMVancouver32:363:1665Malindi ELMOREFKelowna32:383:1666Chris VOTHMCoquitlam32:403:1667Joyline CHEMUTAIFWailuku32:443:1768Liam BUCHARTMEdmonton32:463:1769Calvin BRAINMBoulder32:463:1770Brandon GARDINERMNorth Vancouver32:473:1771Natasha WODAKFNorth Vancouver32:473:1772Matthew KOROPATWAMVancouver32:513:1873Elliot METCALFMScotland Island32:523:1874Calvin REIMERMWinnipeg33:023:1975Karl FLEMINGMVancouver33:053:1976Stefan BIROMNorth Vancouver33:093:1977Duncan MARSDENMCalgary33:133:2078Shaun STEPHENS-WHALEMRoberts Creek33:133:2079Halen KOVACSMVancouver33:173:2080Michiel BAETENSMNevele33:173:2081Liam HOBBSMNanaimo33:183:2082Daniel SZUCSMRed Deer33:223:2183Brae WALKERMSquamish33:223:2184Dayna PIDHORESKYFVancouver33:233:2185Gus AMUNDSONMVancouver33:403:2286Sam MORRISMNew Westminster33:403:2287David BANDIERAMNorth Vancouver33:453:2388Justin MONTELEONEMKelowna33:463:2389Calvin BOTTMWest Vancouver33:473:2390Ethan PEREGRYMMKamloops33:473:2391Rachel CLIFFFVancouver33:523:2492Mark CRYDERMANMCampbell River33:553:2493Ally GINTHERFVancouver33:573:2494Paul BLAZEYMVancouver33:583:2495Alex WILLMVancouver33:593:2496Scott SIMPSONMSaanichton34:003:2497Michele BERTELLIMNew Westminster34:063:2598Paul MCNAMARAMVancouver34:083:2599Mantas JARUSEVICIUSMRichmond34:093:25100Robert FOUGEREMJasper34:113:26101Kieran SCHMIDTKEMVictoria34:133:26102Alexandra MCDOUGALLFGuelph34:143:26103Samantha JORYFVancouver34:163:26104Adrianna BUITELAARFAbbotsford34:173:26105Jenna SCHULZFVancouver34:173:26106Andrea LEEFNorth Vancouver34:183:26107Ryan NGMRichmond34:193:26108Sebastian FIORINIMVancouver34:213:27109Malcolm REIDMMission34:243:27110Alan HUANGMBurnaby34:273:27111Chengqi YUANMShanghai34:273:27112Kelly KEATSMVancouver34:273:27113Kyle KIMURAMVancouver34:293:27114Bruce YUMVancouver34:293:27115Neal PARKERMVancouver34:303:27116Aaron HEIDTMVernon34:383:28117Eliyah BRAWDYFNorth Vancouver34:423:29118Jenna MELANSONFVancouver34:443:29119Tom GILVARYMWhistler34:463:29120Lucas HODGSONMVancouver34:473:29121Amelia PFOHLFVancouver34:493:29122Emrys HALBERTSMAMVancouver34:503:29123Amy MILLERFCalgary34:523:30124Aidan OLIPHANTMVictoria34:533:30125Curtis JUNGMBurnaby34:533:30126Luke GRANDBOISMVancouver34:553:30127Jake GUYMDelta34:563:30128Thomas SAVOUREMNorth Vancouver34:583:30129Jeffrey PRINCIPEMVancouver34:583:30130Hector Guillermo GUERREMVancouver34:593:30131Andrew MAURERMNorth Vancouver35:003:30132Michael MURDOCHMVancouver35:003:30133Joshua CHIUMVancouver35:013:31134Fiona FRASERFVancouver35:013:31135Ian OLIPHANTMVernon35:023:31136Jack FERNEYHOUGHMCalgary35:023:31137Jacky CAOMVancouver35:033:31138Harrison GLOTMANMVancouver35:053:31139Dimitrios MYLONASMVancouver35:053:31140Robert HUROWITZMCalgary35:073:31141Juan VALENCIAMVancouver35:073:31142Jason NGMRichmond35:093:31143Vincent PAGOTMChilliwack35:103:31144Jade BELZBERGFFort Langley35:113:32145Rhys DESMONDMNorth Vancouver35:113:32146Taylor WARDMVancouver35:123:32147Clayten BARSTOWMRichmond35:123:32148David SMYTHMVancouver35:123:32149Tom O’NEILMVancouver35:143:32150Ryan ALBANOMEdmonton35:143:32151Brendan KELLYMVancouver35:163:32152Mark DAVISMSurrey35:173:32153Jong-Eun LEEMCoquitlam35:223:33154Hans ZIMMERLINGMNew Westminster35:243:33155Timothy MCCLUREMVancouver35:243:33156Quennel ANDERSONMPort Moody35:253:33157Jose Alberto MEDINA ACOMVancouver35:263:33158Courtney HUFSMITHFSaskatoon35:283:33159Harry MARSHALLMWhistler35:293:33160Obed TALEIMVancouver35:313:34161Courtney BROHARTFCanmore35:323:34162Mike EASTWOODMRichmond35:353:34163Katelyn COTTERELLFAbbotsford35:363:34164Katie NEWLOVEFVancouver35:373:34165Marten DOMMANNMNorth Vancouver35:393:34166Jouen CHANGFVancouver35:403:34167Joshua GARTLYMNorth Vancouver35:403:34168Francisco KREYSA BARRAZMBurnaby35:423:35169Braden KERSEYMVancouver35:423:35170Alex OTEROMVancouver35:443:35171Adam NISHIMBurnaby35:463:35172Chris DINSDALEMVancouver35:463:35173Daniel ZHANGMSurrey35:473:35174Yasmin AUSTRIDGEFCalgary35:493:35175Joshua SEIFARTHMVancouver35:513:36176Kyle STANGMVancouver35:513:36177Colin SCHLOSSERMVancouver35:513:36178Joey CHIANGMSeattle35:513:36179Lauren ANDREWSFNorth Vancouver35:523:36180Jeremy BROWNMBurnaby35:523:36181Jeffery WONGMVancouver35:523:36182Michael NANGLEMVancouver35:543:36183Patrice LE BIHANMVancouver35:553:36184Alex MOREAUMWest Vancouver35:563:36185Bridget LEONFToronto35:573:36186Sebastien FOELLMERMSquamish35:573:36187Thomas GYSLERMPort Moody35:583:36188Adam LUCIANOMWhitehorse36:003:36190James COLLINSMVancouver36:013:37191Aaron BLACKMVancouver36:013:37192Natalie JOHNSTONFSquamish36:023:37193Morgan HARROPMNorth Vancouver36:033:37194Topher WONGMVancouver36:043:37195Jack HAININGMVancouver36:043:37196Nickademus DE LA ROSAMFort Langley36:053:37197Jonny MILLWARDMWhistler36:053:37198Alex MACDONALDFNorth Vancouver36:053:37199Robin COUPUTMVancouver36:053:37200George WATKINSMVancouver36:063:37

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