Mix of new and familiar faces dominate field at Soiree 8K road race

By Craig Westcott

Tim Murphy, left, was the fastest runner in the 2026 edition of the Kelligrews Soiree 8K Road Race sponsored by Time Horton’s finishing in a time of 29 minutes and 34 seconds.

The Lamaline native has run nearly every year in the event – he finished in second place last year and in 2024. “It got warm,” said Murphy, describing the weather conditions this time around. “The humidity and the hills on this course make it a challenge,” he added.

Murphy took the lead and held it right from the starter’s horn. Another perennial top finisher was Britney Fitzgerald, right, of Foxtrap, who placed third overall and was the fastest female of the day. This was Fitzgerald’s fourth or fifth time finishing as the fastest woman. Her time was 32 minutes and 42 seconds.

The race’s second-fastest finisher was Holyrood native but now St. John’s livyer Brad Hickey, who ran it in 32:09. It was his first time running the Soiree 8K.

Fellow event newcomer Josh Cole of CBS placed third in the men’s division and fourth overall, crossing the finish line at 33:22.

Kate Butler, 13, of the Villa Nova Junior High running team, placed second in the female division.

Patty Symes of Foxtrap, who placed second in the Gander Marathon earlier this summer, was the third female and ninth fastest finisher overall. Not bad for someone who had run the Tely 10 just one week before. Symes came in at 35:20.

Some 169 people registered to run the race with about 145 to 150 showing up for the starter’s horn at 8 a.m. Registration was down slightly this year, which one organizer surmised was probably due to the race coming just one week after the Tely 10 race, which was held earlier in the season than normal.