Today’s spring league opener for the St. Albert Storm has been moved to the Grant Fuhr Centre Football Fields in Spruce Grove from Johnny Bright Stadium. Game time against the Battle River Shock is 3 p.m.
A lack of snow removal on the Johnny Bright field forced the Capital District Minor Football Association to alter its tier 1/2 and 3/4 division schedules. As a result, three tier 3/4 games will be played at Riel Park field today.
The grudge match between the Storm and Shock should be a heated affair, following last year’s fireworks in the 44-18 blowout by Battle River and last Saturday’s penalty-filled jamboree scrimmage in Spruce Grove.
In the 2010 standings the Shock placed second and Storm finished fourth. St. Albert was 4-2-1 overall as the tier II playoff champions. Battle River, the tier I finalist, was 4-2 overall.
Last year’s King of the Road will be at the starting line April 17 to defend his St. Albert 10-mile crown.
Travis McKay of Edmonton is confirmed to run in the 26th annual road race. McKay’s winning time in his St. Albert debut was 53 minutes and one second.
Also registered is Matt Norminton of Edmonton. He set the course record of 50:46 in 2007 and the next year was the runner-up behind Canadian Olympic triathlete Paul Tichelaar.
Another prominent entry is David Corbett, winner of the Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer marathons in 2008.
Marc Meunier, a local runner who placed 12th overall last year at 57:59, is expected to challenger for race honours.
As for Tara Struyk, the fastest female in the 10-miler two years in a row, organizers are still waiting for confirmation from the Edmonton runner. Her time last year was 1:03:01 for 22nd overall after going 1:01:32 the year before for 18th overall.
Kristina Schultz of Sherwood Park, the fourth-place female last year at 1:05:34 and the 2009 runner-up at 1:01:54, will compete in this year’s race.
Meanwhile, 331 runners have registered online or by mail for the oldest sprint race in Alberta. Online registration closes at 6 p.m. Thursday. Entry fees are $45 online at www.eventsonline.ca, $55 mailed in or dropped off at Cranky’s Bike Shop or the Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club (SVAC) and $65 on race day at Grandin mall. Race time is 9:30 a.m.
Entry forms are available at the Tech Shop, Kinsmen Sports Centre, Cranky’s, SVAC, all race sponsors and the Running Room.
Going the distance last year were 330 males and 315 females, compared to 358 males and 293 females in 2009.
The 10-miler is hosted by the St. Albert Roadrunners and Triathlon Club.
Visit www.starrt.com for more information.
