Tsawwassen runner conquers Vancouver Marathon course

Tsawwassen's Keddi-Anne Sherbino crosses the finish line of the BMO Vancouver Marathon in jubilation as winner of the women's category. It was the novice runner's second only competition at that distance, and her seocnd first place finish.

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Tsawwassen's Keddi-Anne Sherbino continued her winning ways in marathon races after placing first in the women's category of BMO Vancouver Marathon May 1.

The 21-year-old former South Delta Secondary grad, who now goes to university in the Okanagan, clocked a time of two hours and 43 minutes and 40 seconds to complete the 42 km distance. That was just under 10 minutes faster than her only other marathon distance from last October in Kelowna where she also crossed the finish line first.

Sherbino said she felt good going into the Vancouver race after running a number of half marathon events where she showed improvement.

"I ran a couple of one hour 18 minute half marathons, so I thought if I put those results together I had a chance at finishing the marathon at around two hours 40 minutes," Sherbino said via telephone from Kelowna. "But to finish at 2:43, I'm not complaining."

During the Vancouver race Sherbino says she used her experience from running in Kelowna to push herself a little harder and experienced a couple of brief periods of discomfort as she adjusted to ingesting special running gels on the course.

"I got a little bit of a sugar rush, I think," she says.

With just two marathons to her credit Sherbino says she's still learning what the best way is to replenish her energy on the course.

Her results, and the dramatic improvements, have raised her profile in the running community to the point where some clubs have approached her to join them.

So far, Sherbino has trained mostly by herself and didn't even wear a watch during the Vancouver run.

Sherbino feels that with the right coaching—and some sponsorship to help with training and other expenses—her marathon time can be lowered to the point where she may come into contention for the Olympic qualifying level of two hours and 30 minutes.

"That means shaving off another 10 minutes, but I think I can do that," she says.

In order to be considered for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England that feat needs to be accomplished by October.

But if not, Sherbino knows that at just 21 she is at least four years away from approaching her peak running years.

"Most marathoners are at their best from 25 to their 30s," she says, adding that time will tell if she has an Olympics in her future.